First I would like to apologize for taking so long with this chapter, life likes to kick me in the ass frequently. Thank you to those who haven't removed me from their alert list, I must be doing something right.
Thank you soooo much to all of you who have reviewed, it means so much to me that every one likes this story. This chapter didn't quite go the way I wanted it to, but I am still pleased.
Huge thank you to Michelle for continuing to be my beta even though the world is trying to shit on her. Blows huge kiss with disgusting noise at Michelle
Although I love my reviews, I want to know how many people are reading this, so if you don't want to flatter or flame me, just leave a big "Hey I'm reading!" in the review box.
Parsletounge will be in Italics, thanks!
Knowledge
Hermione and Ron entered the run down 'pet shop' in Knockturn Alley warily. Neither one could, or wanted, to imagine why Harry wanted anything from this place, it reeked of Dark creatures.
Each had their own worries about the package to be picked up but neither wanted to give voice to their concerns.
"We're doing this for Harry, it's not like this is an errand for Hagrid or something." Ron whispered. Hermione nodded as she glanced around the foul smelling store. Harry was hiding something very big and she was going to figure it out, and soon.
Hermione eyed her boyfriend warily as she remembered how she got into this mess.
Flashback
"I need you to pick up a package for me, here's the address." Harry said as he handed Hermione a small piece of parchment and his Gringotts key.
"It should be about 60 Galleons, but tip him well. Oh and 'mione, don't open the package, please."
"Ok Harry, I don't suppose you're going to tell me what this is about?"
Harry just smiled at her sadly and returned to his room. He hated having to keep secrets.
from his best friends, they deserved to know everything. He wanted to confide in them but it was to dangerous, for now anyway.
End
Hermione knew she should be glad that he was trusting her enough to pick up this
mystery package, but she couldn't help but worry about the reason for all the secrecy.
Something big was going on if he was risking them getting caught in Knockturn Alley. She was interrupted in her thoughts as a grumpy, squat man appeared behind the counter.
"Is there something you need?" The man sneered at his customers. Ron gave the man a glare and opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione cut him off.
"We're here to pick up a package."
"And the name?" The man asked, daring them to come up with one.
"Lupin." Hermione stated matter-of-factly. The dumpy man's glare intensified as he spoke again.
"That's 60 Galleons." Hermione dumped the bag marked 60 in Goblin on the counter and quickly tossed the smaller bag marked 20 up with it, shutting the shopkeeper's reply before it started.
Regaining his glare, the man stuffed the bags into his robes and turned to a wall of thick black curtain.
"Wait here." He spat over his shoulder as he tapped his wand and the curtain swayed to let him through.
"What the hell could be worth 60 Galleons? And what was the extra 20 for?" Ron asked her, visible appalled at the amount of money she was throwing at the man.
"A lot of animals could be worth that amount and the other was a tip. Apparently this 'item' is either very hard to get or very illegal."
Ron snorted, "Or both." Hermione frowned at the implications of that statement and once again wondered just what was she doing in this place. Her attention was caught by the shopkeeper again as the man came back, revealing a medium sized package wrapped in brown paper.
He handed the package to Ron and returned to his seat. The package was radiating magic.
"It's charmed?" Ron said, a little unnerved.
The man glared at him, "Tell Mr. Lupin that I should have the other specimen in six months. Do not shake the package." He said as he stalked to the very back of the store, leaving them alone in the shop.
"Should we shrink it?" Ron asked.
"No, we'll cover it with this, Harry thought we might need it to get here." Hermione handed him the silvery material of an invisibility cloak. Ron's eyebrows shot up and she just shrugged.
"We'll just have to hang back behind the others, no one will notice, there's too many of us." She said as they made their way back to Diagon Alley, and sunlight.
"Yeah, you're right. Wonder how Draco's doing?" Ron grinned mischievously as the pair made their way to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.
'Breathe. Everything is fine, you are in control, just keep breathing.' Were the thoughts
Draco tried to hold onto as he pulled his Malfoy mask firmly in place and hoped no one saw the claustrophobic panic.
The entire day had been like this, the 'herd' went into every store together, made as much noise as humanly possible, stayed entirely too long and then, as soon as Draco breathed fresh air, they were dragged into a different shop.
'What the HELL have I gotten myself into?' He asked himself as he tried desperately to get away form Fred, or was it George? Ginny was the only one who caught the split second slip of his mask and realized he was one trip short of the loony bin.
She grabbed his hand and yanked him through the shop and onto the sidewalk for some fresh air.
Draco sighed in frustration as he calmed himself outside. The whole day had been disastrous and all he wanted was to be left alone by all red headed people. No such luck.
"Are you ok?" Ginny asked, worry etching her face as Draco turned to face her, mask in place.
"Why wouldn't I be?" He spat and instantly regretted the hatred in his voice as Ginny's face went from concern to anger.
"Look, just because you're upset doesn't mean you get to take your frustrations out on me, got it?"
Draco's icy glare faded to guilt as she spoke.
"I know what it's like. Being on the out side of all those loud, obnoxious morons I call brothers. It's like trying to swim through a sea of redheads only to find you don't have any arms."
Draco snorted at this analogy in a very undignified way that made Ginny smirk in a much too Malfoyish manner. Which of course led to both of them clutching their sides with laughter. Draco decided then and there that Ginny would be his lifeline, his stress release.
Much to his dismay, he was beginning to realize there was very little he could hide from the girl. She would have done well in Slytherin.
Harry had woken that morning to find Ron staring at himself in the mirror. A pillow caught Ron on the back of his head while Harry made his way to the bathroom, locking the door quickly. One loud bang on the door told him he had shut it just in time.
Guilt flooded Harry as he dried off from the shower. 'What if they get caught? Or hurt?' He reminded himself that there was a reason he wanted Hermione to go, she uses her brain first. "They will be fine." He muttered to himself as he opened the bathroom door.
He was in too much of a hurry to take clothes into the bathroom with him before his shower, trying to stay away from Ron's retaliation. So it was a fairly wet, barefoot person with only a towel around his waist that Draco ran smack into in the hall.
Harry instinctively reached for the towel that wanted nothing more than to fall to the floor as he steadied himself. He blushed immediately and moved to the side of the hall to let the other boy through.
Draco picked up his dry towel and threw it back over his shoulder, which Harry noticed was void of a shirt.
"Sorry Malfoy."
"Quite alright Potter." Draco said as he made his way into the bathroom, deciding a very cold shower would do him a lot of good.
Harry made it back to his room without any more incidents only to find it empty and he himself irritatingly aroused. His cheeks turned red as embarrassment flooded him.
'Did Malfoy notice? Towels don't hide much, but even if he did, who cares? It's not like he was the reason for this.' Harry thought as he looked straight down. "This is going to be one hell of a day."
Shaking himself mentally, Harry dried quickly and threw on clothes, all the while thinking of Trelawney in a swimsuit. Once that image swam into focus, his jeans were a lot more comfortable.
Harry finished breakfast quickly and said goodbye to the Weasleys, along with Hermione, Malfoy, Tonks and Kingsley, the last two acting as bodyguards for the day.
He made his way into the drawing room and waited with Remus. Dumbledore came in a few minutes later and as Harry made eye contact with him the world seemed to spin and color and emotion swam in front of his eyes,
Harry felt slightly dizzy and shut his eyes to keep form loosing his balance.
"Ah, I wondered how long it would take."
"How long what would take Albus?" Harry asked as he looked anywhere but in his eyes.
"Before you could penetrate my defenses Harry, it seems today's lesson will go well indeed. Do you have your stone with you?"
"No sir, it's up stairs."
"Call for it." Dumbledore said with a bright twinkle in his eye. Harry reached for his wand but Dumbledore cut him off.
"No Harry, try it with out your wand please."
"Um, Albus? He's only sixteen, you're the only person I know that can do wandless magic." Remus stated.
"Well then, let me introduce you to Harry Potter, he will be the second." Harry stared in confusion until Dumbledore turned to him.
"Close your eyes and imagine the stone in your hand." Harry did as he was told and within seconds he felt the weight of the warm stone in his outstretched palm. He opened his eyes when Remus gasped.
"But, I didn't even say the spell. What is going on?"
"Very good my boy, you will find the answer to your question soon I assure you. Now, I would like you to put your thoughts back into your mind and we will begin your last Occlumency lesson."
Harry looked at the other two in confusion for a moment before doing as he was told.
After the information was returned, he pulled his wand and faced his mentor.
Dumbledore smiled and with a flick of his wrist Harry's wand was now in the older man's hand. "There will be no need for this right now. What you learn to today will enable you to defend your mind without the aid of your wand. I want you to close your eyes again and I am going to try to break through your defenses. On the count of three."
"…three." Harry felt the familiar pull at his mind as Albus began to call images forward.
He quickly found the dream and Harry fought to get him out before the end, but failed. Dumbledore pulled out of Harry's mind with a thoughtful look on his face.
"I feel you have concerns about this dream, is there anything you want to ask me?"
"No sir, I wished it to remain private." Harry was mad about the privacy invasion but realized that maybe after today he wouldn't have to worry anymore.
"I see. Harry I want you to clear your mind of everything but that dream. Concentrate hard on it and when I enter again, I want you to just try and keep it out of my reach. Imagine holding candy above a child's head, just out of his reach, but the candy is still there, understand?"
Harry nodded and cleared his mind of everything but the dream. Albus entered again and
Harry found it easy to keep the images out of his reach this time.
"Very good. Now, I want you to do the same thing again. This time both Remus and I will try to get to that image." Harry looked at him with concern but Dumbledore just nodded.
He felt the same tug as Albus started and a less powerful tug as Remus did the same. Harry kept the images from both men easily and began to get bored as they continued trying. He opened his eyes to see that both men were still concentrating on their spells.
Remus dropped his wand to the side and Albus' eyes refocused on Harry's. This time when Harry made eye contact with him there was no dizziness and Harry saw images of a very young woman on a swing hung from a tree.
He quickly realized that this was not his memory, but Albus' and shut his eyes hard.
"I'm so sorry sir, I didn't mean to."
"Nonsense Harry, this is exactly why I am here. The emotions you have been sensing lately are the start of your blood inheritance. I will explain more when we have finished." Dumbledore held up his wand again.
"Now, we will try again but this time I want you to keep your eyes open when we start the spell and while you block us out, I want you to defend yourself."
"Sir, I don't want to hex either of you."
"Don't worry about that Harry, I will be casting against you as I try to get past your defenses. It would be in your best interest to respond."
"Alright sir." Before Harry could get to nervous about hexing them, the attack had started. Remus raised his wand and tried to enter Harry's mind. Albus did not hesitate. Once he tried Harry's mental defenses wandlessly, he immediately released a stinging hex.
Harry kept them both out of his mind easily and when the hex was sent his way he held up his hand and it rebounded back towards Albus.
The attack stopped and Remus sat down exhausted in a nearby chair as Albus repaired his robe sleeve where the hex grazed it.
"That was brilliant, Harry." Remus said and offered him a smile. Harry turned to Albus in shock.
"It was crazy, I knew what you where going to cast at me."
"Yes, because I thought about it first. You will find that most Wizards stop to think about the spell they want to cast long before they cast it. You did a very good job keeping us out of your mind Harry, and I have to say, against me, that is saying a lot."
"Thank you sir." Harry said, humbled at his mentor's words. He glanced up and caught Albus' eye, this time Harry saw straight through the man. He was afraid to loose Harry's trust. He feared what Harry could become with out the proper guidance, but most of all, there was hesitation. Albus was keeping secrets again.
Harry sat roughly in a nearby chair and put his head in his hands. He could have broken the barrier in Albus' mind, but he wanted to give the old coot a chance to explain himself.
After a few moments to get his temper in control, he lifted his head and asked his Headmaster the same question given to him in his second year at school.
"Is there anything you wish to tell me Albus?" If Harry's anger wasn't apparent in the young man's eyes, Albus would have chuckled at the question. Instead he started with an apology.
"Harry, please understand that this information could not be given to you until I was certain Voldermort could not break into you mind any longer. If you will stand, I will give you all the information I have."
Harry understood what he meant and quickly got to his feet.
"Remus, if you could stand behind me, I may loose my balance."
"What is going on?" Remus asked, thoroughly confused.
"It is time I told Harry of his true inheritance. I am ready when you are, my boy." Harry stole a look of uncertainty from his Godfather before he made eye contact with Albus again.
This time there was no holding back. Harry watched as Albus chose long memories of his childhood and waited patiently for the point. The memories started to make more sense and as realization hit he noticed Albus' back leaning against Remus.
"Harry, Albus, is everything ok?" Remus asked when he noticed the connection was broken.
"I think I need a moment Remus." Harry said as the tears flowed down his cheeks. Remus nodded and steadied Albus before he slipped into the hall.
"Harry, I wish I could have told you sooner."
"Are you the last one?"
"Yes."
Harry walked the few feet between himself and Albus and hugged his uncle tightly.
"So, Uncle Albus. Why did I have to go to the Dursleys? If you are family why couldn't I have stayed with you?"
"It was your mother that sacrificed for you, therefore, you had to live with her relatives. I am sorry, I know what you went through in that home. Hopefully, with your inheritance you will not have to return there again."
"Do you need a break?"
"No, but I think I may sit this time."
Harry chuckled and pulled a chair closer to his uncle. "Remus, you can come back in now." He half shouted and the werewolf entered and pulled a chair up beside Albus. Harry saw the curiosity in his eyes and turned to him.
"I'm sorry Remus, it would put you in danger."
"No Harry, you will need his support, along with your friends. When we are done here you can tell him anything you wish. Starting tomorrow, you and your friends will begin training. It is important that they know the truth and are able to defend themselves. Tom will not think twice about using those you love to get to you. They need to be aware."
"It will put them in more danger!"
"Harry, Voldemort can not penetrate their minds the way he did yours. If I had been honest with you from the beginning, Sirius would still be alive, along with many others."
Harry hung his head as Albus admitted his guilt. "I know Albus, but I also know the reason you did it."
"You have the advantage of learning from my mistakes, Harry. Trust in your friends, confide in them."
"I will Albus, I will tell Remus later today. But not the others, just not now."
"Very well, Harry. Let us start again." Harry made eye contact with Albus again and this time information was passed for a good five hours. He covered many family memories along with his own war.
When the session was over Harry sat and snacked with the other two men as he tried to explain his version of all the information that was filling his brain.
"I am the last heir of Godric Gryffindor, that is why I can do wandless magic. Voldemort doesn't know this, when he tried to kill me he gave me Salazar's abilities also."
"That explains a lot. Especially why your parents fled to Godric's Hollow. I suppose you inherited that property as well." Remus said as he thought back on what a strange decision that was at the time.
"Yes, they wanted the protection of the Potter bloodline but didn't want to arouse suspicion by living in the Manor. That is why they were found in the gardener's cottage.
Harry's magic is stronger than mine because of what was given to him that night. He has the strength of both Godric and Salazar." Dumbledore said.
Harry was starting to feel guilty about his choices as of late and decided that if Albus was finally being honest with him, then he would have to do the same.
"Um, Albus?"
"Yes Harry?"
"I have sort of a confession to make. I have been studying the books in the Black library for a couple of days now and it occurred to me that if I was going to be any match for Tom, then I would need to know as much about the Dark Arts as possible." Harry trailed of uncertainly as Remus almost shouted at him.
"Harry, there is absolutely no reason for you to learn the Dark Arts! I'm getting rid of all those books-"
"Remus, calm down. I think it is a wise decision for Harry to study the Dark Arts." Remus gasped in shock but Albus cut him off. "I trust in Harry's ability to do what is right, I do not worry that the Dark Arts will influence him in any way."
"Thank you, Albus." Harry said, relieved that he wasn't angry.
"But, to understand the Dark Arts, you need a teacher capable of assisting you."
"Krum?"
"No Harry, Professor Krum is not as skilled in the actual use of the Dark Arts as another teacher I have on staff." Harry paled as the only other teacher with those qualifications came to mind.
"I think that Professor Snape would be almost happy to teach the subject to a small class."
"Dumbledore you can not be serious-"
"I assure you that I am, Remus. I believe the time has come, as much as I hate to see it happen, to fight fire with fire."
Harry was pissed. He just got rid of that bastard a few months ago and now, now he gets to take lessons that could ultimately decide the fate of himself and the Wizarding world from a man who like to see him dead as much as the Dark Lord.
'Oh yeah, sixth year is going to be great.'
Harry pushed that thought aside for now, no need to be thoroughly depressed.
"When will I start my training?"
"I have arranged it with Remus so that you and the others will begin physical training tomorrow morning. I will send Professor Snape along tomorrow afternoon."
"The others?"
"Yes Harry, as I said before, you friends need to be with you. They will benefit from these trainings as much as you. I will speak to Molly and Arthur tonight and owl Ms. Granger's parents in the morning. I am afraid they will need to be moved to a more secure location."
Harry just nodded, terrified at what he was doing to his friends lives.
"Don't worry, my boy, they will be well protected. We will ready the fourth floor tonight to make room for our guests and the training. Please explain things to Hermione tonight, I will send for the others tomorrow."
"Who will be joining us Albus? Aside from the Grangers." Remus asked.
"Mr. Longbottom and Ms. Lovegood will stay the last few weeks here and the holiday's as well. They are all in danger now."
Harry stood and stretched as he heard the door open. "Oh Albus, I forgot to tell you, I bought a Nehebkau. I have done a lot of research and….." Harry trailed off as the other two men eyed him with blatant suspicion.
"It was the only species I could find that could counter Nagini. THe last vision I had, Voldermort was using her to kill."
"You do know the rumors about those snakes?" Remus asked, clearly terrified.
"Yes, but they are just that, rumors. They are fierce protectors and once tamed they will protect with their lives."
"Harry, you must make sure that this snake does not attack anyone in this house. If you find you can not control it completely, I will destroy it." Dumbledore stated harshly.
"I'm sure it won't be a problem sir, but if I have difficulty I will destroy it myself. I won't let it endanger anyone."
"Very well, the snake will get very large, almost the same size as Nagini. Keep him in Buckbeak's room for now. I will make arrangements at Hogwarts."
"You're not going to let him take it to school, are you?"
"I have to, once Harry tames it, the snake will do anything to be near him. It will destroy everything it can to protect and be with its master. Be careful Harry."
"I will sir."
"Good, now we have missed lunch and I smell dinner, shall we?" Dumbledore asked as he motioned for the door. Remus went to greet the Weasleys and Dumbledore pulled Harry back.
"Have you thought any more about the soul bond?"
"Yes sir, I have no idea who it would be." Harry whispered back to him, fighting the blush in his cheeks.
"Harry, if you get frustrated, I can find the person for you." Harry's eyebrows shot up at that statement. "But you need to know that once the spell is cast you have less than 24 hours to consummate the bond or it will be forfeit. You can not force your soul mate to bond."
"Alright Albus, I will think about it. Thank you."
"Not a problem, I believe your package is upstairs." Dumbledore said as they saw Hermione glance around the stairs and banish an invisible something up them.
"Good evening Headmaster. Harry? Could I have a word?" Hermione added with an edge to her voice.
"Sure."
"Dinner is in fifteen minutes everyone." Molly's voice sounded form the kitchen.
Hermione grabbed his hand and Ron followed them up the stairs. Once in his and Ron's room, Harry stopped Hermione form putting a silencing charm on the door.
"They should hear this, Draco and Ginny I mean."
"Are you sure?" Ron asked.
"Yes, will you call them?" Harry asked and turned to Hermione. "Where is the package?"
Hermione took the invisibility cloak off the package on the bed and stood back a few feet. Harry waited for the others to come in the room.
Ginny was practically dragging Draco in. Harry met his eyes and exhaustion flooding him, everyone else had sheer curiosity, only Hermione's eyes held anger too.
"Hermione, before I explain about the package, I need to tell you all some things. Have a seat." Ron and Hermione sat with Draco and Ginny on the other bed across from the package.
"In my lesson today Albus gave a lot of information that he has been keeping from me. Voldemort, oh grow up; is going to try and use you all to get to me. I don't need to tell you what that would entail, I'm sure you can guess.
So, starting tomorrow we will all begin training in defense and the Dark Arts."
"Um, Harry, don't you mean defense against the Dark Arts?"
"No, Ron, Dumbledore thinks it best if we know what we're dealing with. Fight fire with fire he said. That's why I got the package, to counter Nagini, she seems to ne doing a lot of his dirty work."
Hermione's eyes shot up at this statement. "Exactly what kind of snake is that Harry?"
"Nehebkau." Harry stated simply and every one in the room gasped, oddly enough, louder than when he said Voldemort.
"Harry! You can't have something like that around people! You can't possibly think you can tame it."
"It's not true what they say about them, well some of it is, but I will tame it, its loyalty will lie with me and will protect us all."
"I hope you know what your doing Potter." Malfoy gave him a piercing glare and Harry fought to keep himself from entering the blonde's mind.
"I would never let anything hurt any of you, you all know this. I'm doing this for our protection. It will be moved into Buckbeak's old room and I need you to all stay off the third floor until it's safe."
"Where will I sleep then?" Harry had a hard time ignoring the amusement in Draco's eyes. So did Ginny.
"This room is big, I'll get Mum to help me put your bed in here." Ginny offered and gave Draco a knowing smirk. 'What was I thinking confiding in her?'
"Alright, can we see this thing? It is stunned right?" Draco asked, still annoyed at the look Ginny was giving him.
"Yes, it is. Here." Harry said as he opened the box. The snake was coiled up looking very much asleep. The other four inched closer to the box and just as they relaxed a bit, Draco pinched Ginny hard under her ribs causing her to jump in the air.
"You - absolute - GIT!" She screamed as she as she hit him on the arm with each word. Draco grinned triumphantly and Harry found himself staring at his lips before Hermione brought him out of it.
"Anyway, back to what I was telling you. It appears I am Godric Gryffindor's heir and have inherited the same power that Dumbledore has, only a bit more because of what Tom did to me, transferring some of his power and all. That about sums it up." Harry finished quickly, hoping to overload them and avoid calculating questions.
The five sat in complete silence for a long moment. Surprisingly enough it was Ron who started.
"You're more powerful than Dumbledore?" Harry blushed and started to explain how much training he would need for that to really be true but Hermione saved him.
"Harry, does that mean that you and Dumbledore are relatives?"
"Yes, he's my great, great uncle or something."
"Wow, Harry that's wonderful." Hermione said, knowing how much it must mean to her best friend to have a real family member, one that doesn't hate him for breathing.
"Thanks Hermione, well, we better get down to dinner. No doubt Albus has already explained about the snake." They headed down the hall but Hermione was pulled back.
"Hermione, Albus told me earlier that he was going to ask your parents to relocate. I think they will be coming here for a while."
"Really? Sweet Merlin, by dad is going to kill Ron."
"Not exactly the reaction I thought you would have, but, just thought you should know before everyone else. Will they understand any of this?"
"I have explained the situation to them somewhat, hopefully Professor Dumbledore will be able to completely relocate them when school starts."
"Yeah, they won't be upset about having to leave everything behind then?"
"Are you kidding? This just gives them a reason to retire early, they are quite old you know."
Harry chuckled, "Yes, I suppose they are."
That night after dinner was finished and most everyone's fear of the snake put to rest the Order had a meeting. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Draco were all initiated into the Order.
Most of the adults were pissed and Molly even went so far as to question Dumbledore's sanity before Arthur calmed her and the rest down by explaining that the secrets they now shared must be kept secret at all costs. They simply knew too much.
The others reluctantly agreed and Harry was given the job of initiating them into the group.
"Headmaster, surely this is not wise? The boy has never preformed this kind of spell before-"
"Severus, Harry is just as much the leader of this organization as I am, I have explained this already. Besides, the charm will be stronger if he performs it because of their friendship."
After a brief instruction from Albus, Harry turned to his first person. Ron stood tall and proud in front of Harry and gave his oath.
As Harry made the complicated wrist movement with his wand and said the incantation, he felt a familiar surge of power spring from his chest, similar to what had happened with Dobby.
A red light shot between the two and both were knocked off their feet. Everyone was in shock and Dumbledore was simply beside himself. This Wizard, his great, great nephew was more powerful than he himself had been at the height of his magic. The old man was amazed.
"No need to panic. Ronald, could you please remove your shirt?" Ron did as he was told and everyone gasped.
"Well, that's not something you see every day, is it?" Alastor said from his chair in the shadows. A single phoenix with black and silver plumage was burned into the skin on the right side of Ron's chest just below the collar bone.
"What happened Albus? Can you get rid of it?"
"Hey, I like it, I want to keep it."
"Harry's magic is stronger than mine and when he preformed the binding spell it marked Ronald."
"It's just like the Dark Mark." Ginny said aloud before clamping her hand on her own mouth. Horrified at what she said she gave Harry an apologetic glance.
"It is the same theory, yes, but this was not done out of evil or a will to dominate. No, Ginevra, this is not the same as the Dark Mark. Would you like to continue Harry?"
"I don't think I should." He said before lifting the collar of his shirt that was slightly smoking and looking at his own at his own chest. "I have it too."
"Harry, this is not a bad thing, I think you should continue."
"Alright, but if any of you don't want this mark, then Albus can do it."
Ginny stood before him and took her oath, only asking that he put the mark on her right shoulder blade instead of the chest. All agreed that the spell would work the same, and so Hermione's was also put on the right shoulder blade.
This only left Draco. Harry eyed him for a moment and stepped away to give indication for Albus to continue, but Draco took two steps and stood directly in front of Harry.
"Are you sure you want this?" Harry asked, trying to keep his mind from searching Malfoy's.
"I am sure." Draco said as he took off his shirt, Ron and Harry's had charred a bit after all.
Harry said the spell again after Draco took the oath and this time every one gasped again.
His mark was the same two inch Phoenix as the others, there was a lightning bolt across it's small chest.
Harry could have passed out from shock, instead he sat down roughly, claiming exhaustion. He knew one thing, he was very glad he hadn't revealed his mark to everyone by taking off his shirt. This whole summer was turning out to be way too weird.
The Order meeting covered everything from Voldemort's most recent attacks, still far from London, to the Granger's, Longbottom, and Lovegood arrivals. The meeting ended around midnight and Harry was anxious to get upstairs.
He had come across a name he liked and was eager to talk to the snake. He took the box into Buckbeak's old room and placed several spells on all openings he could find. Mostly to keep the snake in, but more importantly to tell him if it got out.
Harry picked up the snake and placed it on the bed across from him. It was a good four feet long, fairly thin, and a black color that shined an eerie deep blue when the light hit it.
Harry enervated the snake and watched as it uncoiled and raised it's head.
"My name is Harry, do you already have a name?" The snake eyed him warily, if snakes could do such things.
"No Master."
"How do you know I am your master?"
"I can feel that you want to tame me as your own."
"Is that what you want?"
"I live to serve and protect. What will you name me, Master?"
"Serket."
The conversation went on for another good hour as Harry explained about everyone in the house and what he expected out of it. He soon found that the snake was very proud to serve and had a very dry sense of humor.
He warned Serket of the wards on the room, and though it was very displeased about not being trusted, it agreed it was probably best for now.
Harry left Serket in the room to check things out and get comfortable with the promise that he would come back in the morning with food.
Ron and Draco were sound asleep when Harry entered the room. He took off his shirt and cast a small light on his chest facing the mirror. 'What the hell is going on?' His mark was the exact same as Draco's.
After seeing Ron's mark and then his own, Harry had just assumed that it was part of the curse, that the scar would be on anything that resembled him. But then why did Malfoy's have it? The whole damn day was strange enough with out adding this on top of everything.
Harry heaved a big sigh and took off the rest of his clothes. Climbing into bed he wondered if he should tell Malfoy about his mark. 'No, it would probably scare the shit out of him, and though that would be funny, I'm not even ready to think about what this means.'
He made a mental note to find all the information he could about their marks, no doubt Hermione would be up for it. 'She's probably already started.' He groaned to himself about all the studying he would be doing before school started and forced his mind to stop thinking.
Reluctantly his mind obeyed and the boy-who-lived slept better than he had in a long time.
That's it for now folks, tell me what you think, or just tell me if your still reading. Should Serket be male or female? I can't decide. Any suggestions?
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