I've just got back from my driving lesson! It's so fun driving! ^-^ … The only problem was that cat… and the squirrel … jokes – I'm proud to say I've never run anything over! ^-^ … in the short amount of time that I've been driving for …
Disclaimer: Was never mine, is not mine, will never be mine – except for the plot ^-^
Thanks to:
Mikee, Grinners, GoddessMoonLady, athenakitty (it's more that they got a holiday for four people – not that it matters all that much – just that they're on holiday) , Sceleris
Next update: Friday 19th March … or so…
"spoken"
'thought'
~parseltongue~
//~Mind-link conversation between Saskia and Harry~//
:: Part II ::
[ 11th August 1996 ]
The open window allowed a calm breeze to circulate around the young wizard's room. The walls cycled through quite a number of colours attempting to adjust to the boy's moods as he read through the recently delivered letter in the pre-dawn hours of the morning. He had passed out in the early evening from magical exhaustion after one of Saskia's torture sessions, err lessons. His relatives did not even notice his absence from the evening meal.
Saskia had awoken him as soon as she noticed the owl flying through the window. Harry had been hoping for a letter from someone to at the very least let him know the wizarding world had not fallen into snake faces hands in his absence. He had not even received a single note wishing him a happy birthday, albeit he had not received many in the past he had looked forward to them. When Harry read through the letter he felt disappointment growing. It was short and to the point, he was to stay inside and wait until they came to pick him up in the evening to take him to headquarters. He was apparently going back to the Black House at Grimmauld Place.
His familiar could sense the disappointment radiating from her master. She hissed in displeasure. ~They don't underssstand how lucky they are to have you in their livesss~ her head bobbing around as if she were watching potential prey.
~Sasss, they aren't that bad~ his mask slipped slightly, the serpent caught the pained look on his face. Saskia made a sound in her throat causing a brief smile on the wizards face. ~Wasss that a sssnort my friend?~
~I jussst don't underssstand why you have to go when they snap their fingers. They ignored you for almost a week. You dessserve more, young massster. I regret that you have to go~ the serpent said with a little bit of bitterness.
~It'sss not like thingsss will change, we'll ssstill be together, jussst with othersss at timesss, and you can continue to teach me thingsss~
~But I'm a poisssonousss ssserpent. They won't like their presssciousss saviour having me~ Saskia spat the word 'saviour' like it was a dirty word. ~They only acknowledge you when they decide to placate their weapon to ussse you only when they need to~
Harry sighed unconsciously scratching his scar, ~Pleassse Sasss, sssee it from my point of view. They are the only family that I have~ Harry paused ~Sometimesss I wonder if Dumbledore ssset usss up to meet~ he mentioned morosely, ~but they are my friendsss and I have misssed them~
~Very well, young massster, you may wisssh not to mention me . They believe that our tongue is dark. Dumbledore will not remain ignorant of my kin'sss hissstory. If he doesssn't now he will find out that my ancessstorsss ssserved the great Sssalazzar Ssslytherin. He will not want you to keep me~ Saskia hissed.
~I don't exactly trussst him, like I once did, but he doesss alwaysss have hisss reassonsss ...but don't worry, I'll keep you hidden. I don't really want to have to explain everything~ Harry replied though the word "trust" seemed to be poisoned.
The snake not wanting to upset her master any further tried to change the topic ~When do we leave?~
~The letter sssaid that they would be arriving about ssseven tonight. I sssuppossse I should tell the Dursssley'sss I will be leaving today~ Harry hissed ~I almossst wish that I could ssstay here. Then I wouldn't have to worry about hiding you and I could be left alone. I mean no one here expectsss me to be the hero and all sssmilesss and sssunssshine~ Harry sighed ~I don't even know who Harry Potter isss any more~
Saskia raised her head and looked at Harry ~You Harry Potter are the one with the power. You should be whoever you want. If you need sssome ssspace, then it is your right. If you want to hide your feelingsss, then do so. If you want to be all sssmilesss and sssunssshine, then grin and bear it. That is all that they ssshould expect. You are an adolessscent, they have no right to expect you to be the hero that they have created in your name~ she spoke sagely, ~I chossse you for yourssself. Not for your name or its fame but for who you are and who you will become~
~Thanksss Sasss, I know I could count of you to cheer me up~ Harry hissed and stroked his familiar. ~Let'sss get ssstarted in packing all my belonginsgss~
~ * ~ = ~ * ~
At ten minutes past seven Harry put his book in his trunk when he heard shrieks coming from the kitchen of 4 Privet Drive. He ensured that it would remain locked before he turned to the black and silver serpent.
~Oppsss! Did I forget to mention that a group of wizardsss would be arriving to collect us?~ Harry hissed and smirked at Saskia, who hissed her laughter ~You ready Sasss?~
~And if I said no then what?~ she hissed in amusement.
~Then I would tell you to bad~ he grinned cheekily at her.
Harry held his hand out to Saskia and let the magic flow over him, Saskia and the room. The snake shrunk and curled around his wrist before all the wizards extra charms on the room evaporated.
Harry was wearing his serpent amulet on his shirt again, the snake pendant that allowed a mind link between him and his snake, his black pants with the metal chains and a dark blue shirt. His eyes were outlined in black (he finally found the charm to do so without the effort of eye liner) and his hair colourful hair was still spiked (the colours shifted ever so lightly when the shadows moved) Harry paused by the mirror and twirled the two eyebrow piercings around gently.
//~Time to go and greet the jailersss, Sass. Wisssh me luck~// Harry hissed across their mental link.
//~Good luck, but you don't need it, young massster. They will jussst have to get usssed to the new you, abrupt mood swings and all~// her hissings invading Harry's mind.
//~I do not have mood ssswingsss thank you very much, Sassskia~// Harry hissed back in mock annoyance.
Harry smirked to himself as he walked down the stairs where he could hear several voices.
His thoughts briefly became darker, 'I killed Sirius, because of my own stupidity, and they expect me to go back his house and act like nothings wrong. It's not fair, but Sass is right, I shouldn't have to do anything that I don't want to.'
The smirk faded from Harry's face and was replaced by a blank look. The kitchen door opened and Harry found himself looking into the amber eyes of a certain ex-professor, Remus Lupin. He noticed the mans eyes widen as they took in his appearance and the way they roamed across his face and his clothes.
Harry stood still waiting for the werewolf to verbally acknowledge him.
"Remus?" A voice called through the door, "is everything all right?" Harry recognised it immediately as Albus Dumbledore's.
//~Amazing, the headmassster isss here. He must have built up the courage to face me this year~// Harry hissed to his snake bitterness saturated the thought.
The statement seemed to bring the man out of his temporary shock. "Yes, everything is fine," Remus looked over Harry again. "Is your trunk upstairs Harry?" The werewolf spoke quietly at the younger wizard.
"Yes," Harry replied, his blank mask firmly on his face.
Remus seemed to be waiting for something more, but in the end said, "Well, let's go get it." Harry led the man up the stairs to his room without making a sound. The boy opened the door to this room and entered, Remus walking just behind him. Harry lent up against the wall his gaze fixed on the werewolf's face.
The man became more agitated each moment that the boy situated his eyes on him.
//~I think I might be ssscaring Remusss~// Harry hissed. The snake shook around his wrist indicating her laughter.
Harry walked over to his bed and sat down. He was happy with the silence, but this opinion obviously not shared with Remus who seemed to be struggling with it.
"So how was Australia?" Remus spoke hoping to break the ice.
"I stayed in the room. Apparently I was sick," Harry spoke vaguely.
Remus bit his lip and kept turning his gaze to young wizard before he would look elsewhere. The man losing his courage said nothing. Harry stared at him, his pierced eyebrow raised. The werewolf turned away and tried to lift the trunk. Before he had to set it back down because of its weight.
"It's heavy," Remus said staring at the trunk bemusedly.
"So it is," Harry replied, giving the man a brief glare.
"What have you got in here?" Remus asked as he tried to lift it again.
"Just a few books," Harry replied and then grinned as he held a small conversation with Saskia. //~You would think he would realissse that he isss a wizard?~//
//~I think he isss distracted by other mattersss, young massster~// the snake responded.
"Why don't you just ask?" Harry directed to the other man trying to learn his intent.
Remus seemed stunned, "Ask what, Harry?"
"Whatever's on your mind," he responded in a monotone voice.
Remus sighed before he continued on, "Harry, I thought you understood that if you needed our help you just had to owl?"
The boy gave a brief bitter laugh. "Owl? Hedwig is with the Weasley's, how could I owl you? And I didn't need your help, I'm perfectly fine."
"Harry! You look like death! You shouldn't be on your own, not when all you have to think about is Sirius! It wasn't your fault that he died; he chose to go to the Ministry and fight." Harry seemed to notice that this speech seemed a little rehearsed. A scowl planted itself on Harry's face as Remus tried to pull the boy into a hug.
Harry stiffened and wriggled out of the embrace. He did not want the affection at the moment nor did he want the man coming to false conclusions about his mentality. He walked over to the mirror to check himself out, "I guess I am a little pale, but it's not because anything they did. We don't like each other, that's the truth, but they don't intentionally abuse me. They ignore me; I ignore them, that suits us all fine. I'm not some sort of idiot child who can't protect myself. I've been looking after myself since I can remember, I don't need any help," Harry said trying not to cry out in frustration. 'Where were they when I went weeks without food locked in that cramped cupboard?' Harry thought angrily.
He stormed down the stairs, his blank face firmly in place. Remus continued to struggle with his trunk.
In the front room, Harry saw Dumbledore sitting down, his blue eyes twinkling annoyingly behind his half mooned glasses. Harry almost smirked at the gasp and the expression on the headmaster's face.
Dumbledore regained his voice and said quite pleasantly, "Had a good summer Harry?"
Harry shrugged nonchalantly. The man was trying to make small talk and Harry was not going to help him.
Dumbledore tried a different approach, "I'm sure professor Snape will have something to say about those piercings."
"Nothing in the rules against it, definitely not during the summer," Harry replied urbanely.
"Indeed there isn't," the headmaster admitted, mirth shining in his eyes.
//~Lucky me, I get to wind Sssnape up and look good without having to lift a finger~// Harry hissed.
//~No, young massster, jussst an eyebrow~// Saskia hissed in amusement.
Harry smirked visibly, his eyes locking on to his cousin who peered through the door shivering in terror at the thought of two full grown wizards in his home.
"We probably should head out. We can discuss your summer at a better time later," he commented holding up a tin of lemon drops. "It's a portkey," he explained.
Harry had to stop himself from snorting as he reached out to touch the tin. 'Yeah, as if I didn't notice the magic surrounding it,' Harry thought.
~ * ~ = ~ * ~
"Grimmauld Place," Dumbledore said happily. "Remus, would you mind putting Harry's trunk in his room. Harry I figured you would be sharing with Ron again." The old man turned away from Harry as Remus exited the room, the green eyed wizard scowled at the headmaster's back.
The house appeared to be in much better condition from the last time he had been there.
The headmaster sat down on a chair and gestured Harry to do the same. "Harry, there may be something that you may not be entirely aware of. Sirius had included you in his will before he had died," he said solemnly. Harry simply stared at the man, not saying anything. "He left you everything, the money in his Gringott's vault, this house and all his possessions." He paused again. "Now, with your permission I'd like to keep using the house as the Order's Headquarters, because the amount of protective magic around the house is useful for our cause," the headmaster finished.
'No I want you and the order out of my house immediately,' the boy thought sarcastically. 'Should I mention that my godfather is dead and you have some nerve to bring me here and talk about how you need this twice damned house?'
"Doesn't look like I have a choice really does it sir?" Harry almost spat. "If you excuse me, I am heading to bed," Harry rubbed his scar gently. He wondered if the headmaster would even broach the subject of the evil dark lord with a free pass to my head.
He turned and walked up the staircase to head to his room for the night.
//~Remember he needsss you massster. You do not need him~// his familiar hissed in his mind.
… review? Please?