Half an hour later Harry ran into Transfiguration late, a midnight blue Snargon with quicksilver eyes following behind him. "Sorry, Professor," he apologized, handing her a note from Hagrid. "Is it okay if Miri stays here?"
McGonagall sighed and nodded, she already had Malfoy's, what was one more? She directed him to the back of the class, the only empty seat left. With the way the day was going, Harry was surprised to see that the person sitting alone was Seamus, not Draco. Unfortunately, this proved to be just as bad, if not worse.
The whole period he had to endure a whispered sing-song of "Harry and Draco, sitting in a tree. . ."
Finally he growled quietly, "Seam, I don't like him, and up until, well, *now*, I liked you!"
Thankfully McGonagall dismissed the class before a shocked Seamus had the chance to reply.
A bright red Harry dashed out of the room and up to Gryffindor tower. Hermione, Head Girl, had her own room, and Harry whispered the password, throwing himself down into a chair in front of the fire. He didn't realize Miri had followed him until she perched on his shoulder, hissing scoldingly, ~You almost shut the door on me. ~
~Sorry, Miri ~ he smiled a little as she nosed at his ear in forgiveness.
A few seconds later Ron and Hermione dashed in, demanding to know what was wrong. "What's going on Harry?"
Harry sighed and answered, "You know who I like, right?"
Both nodded, Harry had come out during sixth year, though both of his friends had already half-known. Around that time, Harry had also developed a rather disturbing crush on the hyper Irish boy he shared a dorm with.
"Well, I told him. At the end of Transfiguration."
Ron looked surprised, but Hermione just looked sympathetic. She had done the same thing with Ron, and it had ended up with them dating. "Are you sure it's so bad, Harry? Everyone knows Seam is bi, and unattached at the moment. And you're not hard to look at. . ."
Ron looked at his girlfriend with a small amount of jealousy at that statement, but she just laughed and leaned back into him, allowing him to drape an arm around her shoulders.
"I'd rather not think about it, really," Harry replied, stroking Miri's head. Miri rubbed into Harry's hand with a contented hiss.
"How'd you get a Snargon?" Ron asked, changing the subject. "Charlie had one when we were little."
Harry smiled at him gratefully and answered, "I asked all of them if they wanted to stay. Quentin went with Malfoy, Miri with me, and the rest are going to choose after dinner tonight."
"You let *Malfoy* have one?" Ron demanded. "He'll probably beat it to death!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "He will not, or I wouldn't have given Quentin to him. And Quentin had a say in it too, you know."
Ron looked at him for a moment and then without any warning, pulled out his wand and yelled, "Finite Incantatum!"
Harry's glasses fell apart, and he looked at Ron with wide eyes. "Ron, what was that for?!"
"Do you still like Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"What?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. She picked up Harry's glasses and studied them as she answered, "Ron thinks you're under a spell because you don't hate Malfoy anymore. Harry, these glasses are a wreck. How many spells did you have on them?"
"umm. . . a lot?" he offered.
"Well, I can't fix them."
"Ron," Harry complained, "You can't just throw spells at me."
"Sorry mate," Ron apologized meekly.
"Here," Hermione sighed and pointed her wand at Harry. He looked at her nervously. "Oh, come on Harry, you need to be able to see for the rest of our classes." She waved her wand and muttered a few words that Harry would have sworn were unpronounceable and suddenly he could see clearly.
He looked faintly surprised. "Thanks 'Mione. How long will it last?"
"As long as no one breaks it," she looked pointedly at Ron, who blushed, "it'll last forever. We should get to the Great Hall; we're already late for lunch."
Harry groaned and said, "No. I'm never going to even be able to look at Seamus again, much less eat lunch with him. You guys go, tell them I contracted a rare disease that kills everyone with the name of Finnigan."
Hermione laughed softly and grabbed Harry's arm. "You're going to have to face him sometime, you know. Come on. And you still have to tell us what happened last night." Ron nodded in agreement.
"I'll tell you after Potions," Harry sighed and walked to lunch with them, steps heavy and a knot of dread in his stomach. He stared at the ground as he walked into the Great Hall, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. Once seated, he stared blankly at his food, not looking up until Ron elbowed him in the ribs.
"What?" Harry snapped, rubbing his side.
"Seamus has been staring at you all of lunch."
"Huh?" obviously he'd heard though, because he was now faintly pink.
"Just thought you might want to know."
Harry stole a glance down the table, and sure enough, Seamus's eyes met his. He quickly looked back down and hurried out as soon as he could, muttering something about a forgotten scroll on the 18th Goblin War and it's Influence on Magic.
All through History of Magic with Ravenclaw, while Professor Binns droned on about the 21st Goblin War (this one had actually lasted a day and a half and managed to have about 30 "major battles"), Harry could feel Seamus's eyes on him. He focused on the sound of Hermione's quill scratching notes (she had long since given up and let Ron and Harry copy them) and Ron's soft snores, making a distinct effort not to turn around.
Miri was a helpful distraction. The fire-lizard, though still a baby, was very curious. She flitted around the room, annoying some students and making others smile.
When class was dismissed and all of the sleeping students woken up by one friend or another, Miri perched back on Harry's shoulder.
~Did you have fun, Miri? ~ Harry asked, and smiled at her enthusiastic response. ~Do you mind going to Potions, then? Quentin will be there. ~
~I'll go ~ Miri told him happily.
Harry noticed a few stares as he continued walking, but Hermione (who'd been waking Ron) and a newly awoken Ron quickly caught up.
"Potions," Ron grumbled. "I'd bet anything that Snape personally requested this schedule."
Harry had to agree. Gryffindor/Slytherin seventh year Potions was last period on Friday, and they had Double Potions first thing Monday. Snape really could be a sadistic prat.
They walked in a few steps after Crabbe and Goyle, and Snape opened his mouth to take points off for being late out of habit, then looked at Harry and snapped it shut.
Ron turned to look at Harry. "What'd you do?" he asked excitedly.
Harry just shook his head as he whispered, "After Potions."
They took their seats, and Quentin flew over and began hissing at Harry. Soon, Miri had joined in.
~Hi Quentin, ~ Harry smiled. He saw Snape glowering and quickly hushed the Snargons.
Quentin flew back to land on Draco's shoulder, and Miri, not finished, followed him. They talked to each other while Draco tried ineffectually to ask them to be quiet. Finally he looked over at Harry.
~Quentin, Miri come here. ~ Harry called.
Snape looked annoyed at the interruption, and before Harry could ask the Snargons to please keep it down, he snapped, "Potter, if you and Mr. Malfoy can't quiet your pets, the least you could do is sit together so that they aren't disturbing the rest of the class."
Within a few seconds, the seating arrangements had been changed and Harry found himself at the front of the classroom next to Draco. Neither Miri nor Quentin seemed to notice the humans' discomfort, and hissed happily.
~Sorry Miri, Quent, but would you mind keeping it down a bit? I don't know about Draco, but I need to pass this class. ~
Both Snargons obeyed, flying to the back of the classroom to continue their conversation, and Harry could once again hear Snape. He preferred the fire-lizards.
"You may now begin, and remember, every pair will be testing their own potions," Snape said with a disturbing smile. Nearly everyone looked towards Neville, who wasn't even worried. By the end of the lesson, he knew his cauldron would have exploded and there wouldn't be any potion to test.
"What potion are we making?" Harry asked Draco, leaning over to catch a glimpse of his notes.
Draco rolled his eyes and muttered, "Honestly, Potter, I don't know how you made it to seventh year."
"Well, honestly, neither do I," Harry responded with a small grin. "So, what potion?"
Draco snickered and answered, "This," handing his notes to Harry.
Harry glanced at it quickly and groaned. "You take notes like Hermione."
"Read them Potter. And then get the ingredients."
Harry looked at him incredulously. "So you can what, sit on your lazy arse and do nothing?"
Ron, who heard this, leaned over to Hermione and muttered, "All back to normal." She ignored him.
On the other side of the room, Draco was answering, "No, I'll do the real work. You just fetch and carry."
"I'm your slave now? I don't think so, Malfoy." Harry's mind immediately came up with some interesting scenarios to try out *that* remark, as did Draco's. He stood hurriedly, mumbling in the direction of the blonde, "I'll get the ingredients."
He quickly grabbed everything listed in Draco's notes and headed back, still reading the parchment to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Suddenly he walked into a black-cloaked, greasy-haired wall.
"25 points from Gryffindor for your inattentiveness Potter!" Snape barked. "And detention tonight at nine for attempting to cause bodily harm to a teacher!"
Having passed "bad day" around the time he woke, and crossed into the top ten somewhere between Transfiguration and lunch, Harry was quickly nearing one of the five worst days of his life. And so he looked back at Snape calmly and replied, "No."
Snape looked at him in shock. No one ever talked back to him. "50 points from Gryffindor for your disrespect!"
"No!"
Snape opened his mouth to reply, and found that he couldn't speak. He rounded on the class furiously, only to see his godson standing, wand pointed at him. "Let him speak, Sev. This is amusing."
The whole class froze. Most of the Gryffindors looked caught between laughter and horror, and the Slytherins couldn't decide who to side with – their Prince or their Head of House.
Harry leaned in and said in a low voice, "I'll be here tonight, under the guise of a detention if you wish. But stop bloody taking points from Gryffindor, or I'll tell McGonagall about that picture you have of her." At Snape's confused look, he added, "You know. *That* one." He was making this up as he went along, and figured McGonagall would be the angriest. He could always fake evidence later.
Harry turned toward Draco, who called, "Finite Incantatum."
Snape sputtered quietly, "But how do you know. . ."
Harry smiled triumphantly, and then thought about it. Suddenly he felt sick. Trying to banish thoughts of McGonagall and Snape from his head, he barely heard the Potions Professor snarl murderously, "100 points to Gryffindor for Potter's Slytherin-like attitude."
None of the students were sure how to take that. Really, it was a compliment to Slytherin and an insult to Gryffindor, but it didn't particularly matter, because Gryffindor got the points.
Standing up, Seamus suddenly yelled, "Go Harry!" He was immediately forced back into his seat by Snape's enraged glare.
Harry blushed for the thousandth time that day, a testament to how bad it had been, and walked back to his and Draco's table. "Thanks," he whispered, suddenly exhausted.
Draco only nodded, seeming to understand how Harry felt. He looked towards the dark-haired boy to ask for his notes when he realized something was different. "Where are your glasses Potter? No wonder you ran into Snape."
"I can see," Harry replied defensively. "Hermione fixed my eyes magically because Ron decided he needed to free me from your spell and accidentally murdered my glasses."
Draco sniggered and then told him, "How interesting. Blaise thinks I'm under a spell of *yours*. He knows better than to throw spells at me though."
"Why?" Harry asked curiously as he continued chopping nightshade. Looking down at his work he asked, more to himself than Draco, "Isn't this deadly?"
Draco shook his head in exasperation. "Really, it's a wonder you haven't poisoned yourself. Yes that's poisonous, but not if you mix it with this," he held up a small amount of dragon's blood. "And the last time Blaise tossed a spell at me, I told him if he ever did it again, I'd transfigure him into a girl."
"Is that possible?"
"Not that I know of, but he doesn't know that."
Harry laughed. "I can just see Zabini's face if you turned him into a girl."
Draco smirked. "Here Potter, we need to add this now." He pointed to something that looked suspiciously like marijuana.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Oregano?" Draco joked. "No, it's catnip."
"Catnip, nightshade, and dragon's blood? What potion are we making, Malfoy?"
"Did you even read the notes? It says right there," he pointed to the top of the scroll.
Harry looked to where Draco was pointing. "A calming potion?"
"Something like a sedative, without any side effects. Now, just the heartsease and powdered unicorn hoof . . ."
As Harry began stirring, there was a huge explosion from behind them. No one even jumped; it was such a common occurrence.
"Bloody hell Longbottom, there aren't even any explosive ingredients *in* this potion!" Snape shouted. Fury still laced his tone, but something that sounded like exasperation was forcing itself in too.
Harry turned around and his eyes widened. Quickly he poked Draco as he said, "Malfoy, you have to see this."
Draco looked over his shoulder and burst out laughing. "Great Merlin, Sev, you look like a Hufflepuff!"
"Detention, Malfoy!" Snape thundered before turning back to Neville. "Why is everything bloody *pink* with you, Longbottom?" he continued his rant. "Pink robes, pink hair, pink fluffy bunnies tattooed on my forehead!"
Harry bit his tongue, trying not to laugh as he remembered that incident.
Neville didn't even look frightened. Of course, it was rather hard to be frightened of a bright pink-skinned Potions Professor, even if that Professor was Snape.
"Bottle your potions!" Snape all but screamed. "You have five minutes to be out of my sight!"
Everyone quickly obeyed, and there was a rush for the door. No one wanted to stay in the same room, or really even the same castle, with a maniacally furious Snape. Even Quentin and Miri flew quickly to their masters' shoulders.
Once outside the door, Seamus grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him into a corner, Miri following behind. "Is what you said earlier today true, Harry?"
"Yeah," Harry answered, staring intently at the stone floor.
"Then would you like to grab a butterbeer with me at the Three Broomsticks tomorrow?"
Harry's head snapped up. "Ow," he complained, rubbing his neck as Miri laughed. "Yeah, Seamus, I'd like that." Then he though of something. "Is this-I mean are you-is it"
"Yeah, Harry," Seamus answered with a smile. "I'm asking you out."
"Okay," Harry grinned brightly. They started walking slowly towards Gryffindor Tower.
"So," Seamus asked, "What did you say to Snape? I don't think he's ever given points to Gryffindor in his whole life."
Harry just smiled mysteriously.
When they walked into the common room, Harry was immediately accosted by Ron and Hermione, both demanding to know what had happened in Potions. "Bye Seam!" he called as he was dragged away.
~ You run around too much, ~ Miri complained, but Harry could hear the happiness in her voice.
A laughing Seamus waved and then walked over to where Dean and Neville were playing Exploding Snap.
Once in Hermione's room, Harry began to tell them everything that had happened the night before while Miri landed in front of the fire. He left out the Dursleys' role in everything, and the fact that Draco had obviously tried to kill himself before, finishing with, "So, Malfoy isn't a Death Eater."
"Well, it's not that hard to believe," Hermione said, "He's too arrogant to serve someone else. I always wondered how his father had ever managed to become a Death Eater in the first place."
Ron was only partly listening. "Why didn't you tell us about your other . . . attempts, Harry? We would have helped." He sounded hurt.
"I know, Ron," Harry sighed. "I just-I was so much happier once I was back here, and I didn't want to drag the bad memories back. You guys helped me more than you know. And last night was a spell."
Hermione, sensing his discomfort, changed the subject. "What in the world did you say to Snape? I can understand him not taking points at the beginning of class, because of last night, but he *gave* you points."
Harry, looking faintly disgusted, replied, "Believe me, you'd rather not know."
"You didn't . . . offer anything, right?" Ron asked worriedly.
"No! Gods no, Ron, you're going to make me sick! I just said something about him and McGonagall."
"You're right. I'd rather not know that," Ron said, eyes wide.
Hermione just looked faintly ill.
They changed the subject quickly, talking about (or complaining about in the boys' case) assignments and the upcoming Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.
As they walked out to go to dinner, a sleepy Miri now perched on his shoulder, Harry added, "Oh, and Seamus asked me on a bit of a date tomorrow, for Hogsmeade."
"Congratulations mate!" Ron cried, slapping him on the back. Miri hissed her irritation and settled back down.
"Good for you, Harry," Hermione smiled.
In the Great Hall, Harry sat next to Seamus and Ron, Hermione sitting next to Ginny and Dean across from him. Seamus put an arm around him, so Miri exasperatedly flew over to perch on Hermione.
Soon, though, they realized that Harry couldn't use his right arm with Seamus' left across him, and Seamus couldn't eat with his left hand. Both of them laughed, and joined in the usual Friday conversations – Quidditch Practice, Hogsmeade, upcoming parties and the like.
At the end of dinner, Dumbledore stood. "I have a special announcement for all of you seventh years. The rest of you may go."
There was a rustling as the entire group of the first through sixth years shuffled out of the Hall, looking curious.
"As you know from Care of Magical Creatures, Snargons are often kept as pets. After speaking with them through our resident Parseltongue," everyone looked at Harry, "some have decided to stay, and will be choosing which students to stay with."
Ten Snargons flew in, a rainbow of colors.
Two flew to Slytherin, one, a rose color with soft blue eyes, went to Blaise. He looked around, obviously ready to fight anyone who made fun of her, but no one did. The other, a swirling pale blue and lavender with golden eyes, went to Pansy.
Two went to Gryffindor. The first, a brilliant green, landed carefully on a startled Neville, and the other, black with purple eyes, went to Hermione, whose expression of shock rivaled Neville's.
Three went to Ravenclaw, a yellow with dark blue eyes to Cho Chang, and two to students that, Harry realized with a start, he didn't know.
The same thing happened at the Hufflepuff table. A silvery-white with dark green eyes went to Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Harry didn't know the other two students. He recognized everyone, and had probably talked to them all at one time or another, but he couldn't come up with names.
How odd, he though. Years of rivalry with the Slytherins meant that he knew every Slytherin seventh year's name, but Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, the more neutral Houses, were also the less known Houses.
Everyone with a Snargon rushed to Harry, wanting to know names. Cho's was Sunny, the other two Ravenclaws' (Adam and Rachel, apparently) were named Elf and Casey. Blaise's was, of course, Rose, and Pansy's was Mel (short for Melissa, she told Harry). Justin's was Snow, which surprised Harry, who doubted that the fire-lizard had ever even seen snow. He stuck to his name, though, and Harry informed Justin with a shrug. The other two (whose names he didn't catch) had Snargons called Whitney and Jack. Finally he managed to get to his own House. Hermione's was named Kerri and Neville's was named Matt.
Author's Note: Okay, this was an awkward place to end, but I realized when I was trying to upload it that I hadn't left a good break. Also, I know that cannon Draco most likely wouldn't get the Muggle references, but for now, it's a case of know thy enemy. Or at least those who Lucius considered the enemy. The whole glasses thing belongs to someone else, although I think in that person's story it was Draco who yelled Finite Incantatum. If anyone knows the other, I'd like to attribute the idea to them, but I can't find the story. Also, reviews are welcome, as are ideas.
McGonagall sighed and nodded, she already had Malfoy's, what was one more? She directed him to the back of the class, the only empty seat left. With the way the day was going, Harry was surprised to see that the person sitting alone was Seamus, not Draco. Unfortunately, this proved to be just as bad, if not worse.
The whole period he had to endure a whispered sing-song of "Harry and Draco, sitting in a tree. . ."
Finally he growled quietly, "Seam, I don't like him, and up until, well, *now*, I liked you!"
Thankfully McGonagall dismissed the class before a shocked Seamus had the chance to reply.
A bright red Harry dashed out of the room and up to Gryffindor tower. Hermione, Head Girl, had her own room, and Harry whispered the password, throwing himself down into a chair in front of the fire. He didn't realize Miri had followed him until she perched on his shoulder, hissing scoldingly, ~You almost shut the door on me. ~
~Sorry, Miri ~ he smiled a little as she nosed at his ear in forgiveness.
A few seconds later Ron and Hermione dashed in, demanding to know what was wrong. "What's going on Harry?"
Harry sighed and answered, "You know who I like, right?"
Both nodded, Harry had come out during sixth year, though both of his friends had already half-known. Around that time, Harry had also developed a rather disturbing crush on the hyper Irish boy he shared a dorm with.
"Well, I told him. At the end of Transfiguration."
Ron looked surprised, but Hermione just looked sympathetic. She had done the same thing with Ron, and it had ended up with them dating. "Are you sure it's so bad, Harry? Everyone knows Seam is bi, and unattached at the moment. And you're not hard to look at. . ."
Ron looked at his girlfriend with a small amount of jealousy at that statement, but she just laughed and leaned back into him, allowing him to drape an arm around her shoulders.
"I'd rather not think about it, really," Harry replied, stroking Miri's head. Miri rubbed into Harry's hand with a contented hiss.
"How'd you get a Snargon?" Ron asked, changing the subject. "Charlie had one when we were little."
Harry smiled at him gratefully and answered, "I asked all of them if they wanted to stay. Quentin went with Malfoy, Miri with me, and the rest are going to choose after dinner tonight."
"You let *Malfoy* have one?" Ron demanded. "He'll probably beat it to death!"
Harry rolled his eyes. "He will not, or I wouldn't have given Quentin to him. And Quentin had a say in it too, you know."
Ron looked at him for a moment and then without any warning, pulled out his wand and yelled, "Finite Incantatum!"
Harry's glasses fell apart, and he looked at Ron with wide eyes. "Ron, what was that for?!"
"Do you still like Malfoy?" Ron asked.
"What?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. She picked up Harry's glasses and studied them as she answered, "Ron thinks you're under a spell because you don't hate Malfoy anymore. Harry, these glasses are a wreck. How many spells did you have on them?"
"umm. . . a lot?" he offered.
"Well, I can't fix them."
"Ron," Harry complained, "You can't just throw spells at me."
"Sorry mate," Ron apologized meekly.
"Here," Hermione sighed and pointed her wand at Harry. He looked at her nervously. "Oh, come on Harry, you need to be able to see for the rest of our classes." She waved her wand and muttered a few words that Harry would have sworn were unpronounceable and suddenly he could see clearly.
He looked faintly surprised. "Thanks 'Mione. How long will it last?"
"As long as no one breaks it," she looked pointedly at Ron, who blushed, "it'll last forever. We should get to the Great Hall; we're already late for lunch."
Harry groaned and said, "No. I'm never going to even be able to look at Seamus again, much less eat lunch with him. You guys go, tell them I contracted a rare disease that kills everyone with the name of Finnigan."
Hermione laughed softly and grabbed Harry's arm. "You're going to have to face him sometime, you know. Come on. And you still have to tell us what happened last night." Ron nodded in agreement.
"I'll tell you after Potions," Harry sighed and walked to lunch with them, steps heavy and a knot of dread in his stomach. He stared at the ground as he walked into the Great Hall, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. Once seated, he stared blankly at his food, not looking up until Ron elbowed him in the ribs.
"What?" Harry snapped, rubbing his side.
"Seamus has been staring at you all of lunch."
"Huh?" obviously he'd heard though, because he was now faintly pink.
"Just thought you might want to know."
Harry stole a glance down the table, and sure enough, Seamus's eyes met his. He quickly looked back down and hurried out as soon as he could, muttering something about a forgotten scroll on the 18th Goblin War and it's Influence on Magic.
All through History of Magic with Ravenclaw, while Professor Binns droned on about the 21st Goblin War (this one had actually lasted a day and a half and managed to have about 30 "major battles"), Harry could feel Seamus's eyes on him. He focused on the sound of Hermione's quill scratching notes (she had long since given up and let Ron and Harry copy them) and Ron's soft snores, making a distinct effort not to turn around.
Miri was a helpful distraction. The fire-lizard, though still a baby, was very curious. She flitted around the room, annoying some students and making others smile.
When class was dismissed and all of the sleeping students woken up by one friend or another, Miri perched back on Harry's shoulder.
~Did you have fun, Miri? ~ Harry asked, and smiled at her enthusiastic response. ~Do you mind going to Potions, then? Quentin will be there. ~
~I'll go ~ Miri told him happily.
Harry noticed a few stares as he continued walking, but Hermione (who'd been waking Ron) and a newly awoken Ron quickly caught up.
"Potions," Ron grumbled. "I'd bet anything that Snape personally requested this schedule."
Harry had to agree. Gryffindor/Slytherin seventh year Potions was last period on Friday, and they had Double Potions first thing Monday. Snape really could be a sadistic prat.
They walked in a few steps after Crabbe and Goyle, and Snape opened his mouth to take points off for being late out of habit, then looked at Harry and snapped it shut.
Ron turned to look at Harry. "What'd you do?" he asked excitedly.
Harry just shook his head as he whispered, "After Potions."
They took their seats, and Quentin flew over and began hissing at Harry. Soon, Miri had joined in.
~Hi Quentin, ~ Harry smiled. He saw Snape glowering and quickly hushed the Snargons.
Quentin flew back to land on Draco's shoulder, and Miri, not finished, followed him. They talked to each other while Draco tried ineffectually to ask them to be quiet. Finally he looked over at Harry.
~Quentin, Miri come here. ~ Harry called.
Snape looked annoyed at the interruption, and before Harry could ask the Snargons to please keep it down, he snapped, "Potter, if you and Mr. Malfoy can't quiet your pets, the least you could do is sit together so that they aren't disturbing the rest of the class."
Within a few seconds, the seating arrangements had been changed and Harry found himself at the front of the classroom next to Draco. Neither Miri nor Quentin seemed to notice the humans' discomfort, and hissed happily.
~Sorry Miri, Quent, but would you mind keeping it down a bit? I don't know about Draco, but I need to pass this class. ~
Both Snargons obeyed, flying to the back of the classroom to continue their conversation, and Harry could once again hear Snape. He preferred the fire-lizards.
"You may now begin, and remember, every pair will be testing their own potions," Snape said with a disturbing smile. Nearly everyone looked towards Neville, who wasn't even worried. By the end of the lesson, he knew his cauldron would have exploded and there wouldn't be any potion to test.
"What potion are we making?" Harry asked Draco, leaning over to catch a glimpse of his notes.
Draco rolled his eyes and muttered, "Honestly, Potter, I don't know how you made it to seventh year."
"Well, honestly, neither do I," Harry responded with a small grin. "So, what potion?"
Draco snickered and answered, "This," handing his notes to Harry.
Harry glanced at it quickly and groaned. "You take notes like Hermione."
"Read them Potter. And then get the ingredients."
Harry looked at him incredulously. "So you can what, sit on your lazy arse and do nothing?"
Ron, who heard this, leaned over to Hermione and muttered, "All back to normal." She ignored him.
On the other side of the room, Draco was answering, "No, I'll do the real work. You just fetch and carry."
"I'm your slave now? I don't think so, Malfoy." Harry's mind immediately came up with some interesting scenarios to try out *that* remark, as did Draco's. He stood hurriedly, mumbling in the direction of the blonde, "I'll get the ingredients."
He quickly grabbed everything listed in Draco's notes and headed back, still reading the parchment to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Suddenly he walked into a black-cloaked, greasy-haired wall.
"25 points from Gryffindor for your inattentiveness Potter!" Snape barked. "And detention tonight at nine for attempting to cause bodily harm to a teacher!"
Having passed "bad day" around the time he woke, and crossed into the top ten somewhere between Transfiguration and lunch, Harry was quickly nearing one of the five worst days of his life. And so he looked back at Snape calmly and replied, "No."
Snape looked at him in shock. No one ever talked back to him. "50 points from Gryffindor for your disrespect!"
"No!"
Snape opened his mouth to reply, and found that he couldn't speak. He rounded on the class furiously, only to see his godson standing, wand pointed at him. "Let him speak, Sev. This is amusing."
The whole class froze. Most of the Gryffindors looked caught between laughter and horror, and the Slytherins couldn't decide who to side with – their Prince or their Head of House.
Harry leaned in and said in a low voice, "I'll be here tonight, under the guise of a detention if you wish. But stop bloody taking points from Gryffindor, or I'll tell McGonagall about that picture you have of her." At Snape's confused look, he added, "You know. *That* one." He was making this up as he went along, and figured McGonagall would be the angriest. He could always fake evidence later.
Harry turned toward Draco, who called, "Finite Incantatum."
Snape sputtered quietly, "But how do you know. . ."
Harry smiled triumphantly, and then thought about it. Suddenly he felt sick. Trying to banish thoughts of McGonagall and Snape from his head, he barely heard the Potions Professor snarl murderously, "100 points to Gryffindor for Potter's Slytherin-like attitude."
None of the students were sure how to take that. Really, it was a compliment to Slytherin and an insult to Gryffindor, but it didn't particularly matter, because Gryffindor got the points.
Standing up, Seamus suddenly yelled, "Go Harry!" He was immediately forced back into his seat by Snape's enraged glare.
Harry blushed for the thousandth time that day, a testament to how bad it had been, and walked back to his and Draco's table. "Thanks," he whispered, suddenly exhausted.
Draco only nodded, seeming to understand how Harry felt. He looked towards the dark-haired boy to ask for his notes when he realized something was different. "Where are your glasses Potter? No wonder you ran into Snape."
"I can see," Harry replied defensively. "Hermione fixed my eyes magically because Ron decided he needed to free me from your spell and accidentally murdered my glasses."
Draco sniggered and then told him, "How interesting. Blaise thinks I'm under a spell of *yours*. He knows better than to throw spells at me though."
"Why?" Harry asked curiously as he continued chopping nightshade. Looking down at his work he asked, more to himself than Draco, "Isn't this deadly?"
Draco shook his head in exasperation. "Really, it's a wonder you haven't poisoned yourself. Yes that's poisonous, but not if you mix it with this," he held up a small amount of dragon's blood. "And the last time Blaise tossed a spell at me, I told him if he ever did it again, I'd transfigure him into a girl."
"Is that possible?"
"Not that I know of, but he doesn't know that."
Harry laughed. "I can just see Zabini's face if you turned him into a girl."
Draco smirked. "Here Potter, we need to add this now." He pointed to something that looked suspiciously like marijuana.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Oregano?" Draco joked. "No, it's catnip."
"Catnip, nightshade, and dragon's blood? What potion are we making, Malfoy?"
"Did you even read the notes? It says right there," he pointed to the top of the scroll.
Harry looked to where Draco was pointing. "A calming potion?"
"Something like a sedative, without any side effects. Now, just the heartsease and powdered unicorn hoof . . ."
As Harry began stirring, there was a huge explosion from behind them. No one even jumped; it was such a common occurrence.
"Bloody hell Longbottom, there aren't even any explosive ingredients *in* this potion!" Snape shouted. Fury still laced his tone, but something that sounded like exasperation was forcing itself in too.
Harry turned around and his eyes widened. Quickly he poked Draco as he said, "Malfoy, you have to see this."
Draco looked over his shoulder and burst out laughing. "Great Merlin, Sev, you look like a Hufflepuff!"
"Detention, Malfoy!" Snape thundered before turning back to Neville. "Why is everything bloody *pink* with you, Longbottom?" he continued his rant. "Pink robes, pink hair, pink fluffy bunnies tattooed on my forehead!"
Harry bit his tongue, trying not to laugh as he remembered that incident.
Neville didn't even look frightened. Of course, it was rather hard to be frightened of a bright pink-skinned Potions Professor, even if that Professor was Snape.
"Bottle your potions!" Snape all but screamed. "You have five minutes to be out of my sight!"
Everyone quickly obeyed, and there was a rush for the door. No one wanted to stay in the same room, or really even the same castle, with a maniacally furious Snape. Even Quentin and Miri flew quickly to their masters' shoulders.
Once outside the door, Seamus grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him into a corner, Miri following behind. "Is what you said earlier today true, Harry?"
"Yeah," Harry answered, staring intently at the stone floor.
"Then would you like to grab a butterbeer with me at the Three Broomsticks tomorrow?"
Harry's head snapped up. "Ow," he complained, rubbing his neck as Miri laughed. "Yeah, Seamus, I'd like that." Then he though of something. "Is this-I mean are you-is it"
"Yeah, Harry," Seamus answered with a smile. "I'm asking you out."
"Okay," Harry grinned brightly. They started walking slowly towards Gryffindor Tower.
"So," Seamus asked, "What did you say to Snape? I don't think he's ever given points to Gryffindor in his whole life."
Harry just smiled mysteriously.
When they walked into the common room, Harry was immediately accosted by Ron and Hermione, both demanding to know what had happened in Potions. "Bye Seam!" he called as he was dragged away.
~ You run around too much, ~ Miri complained, but Harry could hear the happiness in her voice.
A laughing Seamus waved and then walked over to where Dean and Neville were playing Exploding Snap.
Once in Hermione's room, Harry began to tell them everything that had happened the night before while Miri landed in front of the fire. He left out the Dursleys' role in everything, and the fact that Draco had obviously tried to kill himself before, finishing with, "So, Malfoy isn't a Death Eater."
"Well, it's not that hard to believe," Hermione said, "He's too arrogant to serve someone else. I always wondered how his father had ever managed to become a Death Eater in the first place."
Ron was only partly listening. "Why didn't you tell us about your other . . . attempts, Harry? We would have helped." He sounded hurt.
"I know, Ron," Harry sighed. "I just-I was so much happier once I was back here, and I didn't want to drag the bad memories back. You guys helped me more than you know. And last night was a spell."
Hermione, sensing his discomfort, changed the subject. "What in the world did you say to Snape? I can understand him not taking points at the beginning of class, because of last night, but he *gave* you points."
Harry, looking faintly disgusted, replied, "Believe me, you'd rather not know."
"You didn't . . . offer anything, right?" Ron asked worriedly.
"No! Gods no, Ron, you're going to make me sick! I just said something about him and McGonagall."
"You're right. I'd rather not know that," Ron said, eyes wide.
Hermione just looked faintly ill.
They changed the subject quickly, talking about (or complaining about in the boys' case) assignments and the upcoming Quidditch match against Hufflepuff.
As they walked out to go to dinner, a sleepy Miri now perched on his shoulder, Harry added, "Oh, and Seamus asked me on a bit of a date tomorrow, for Hogsmeade."
"Congratulations mate!" Ron cried, slapping him on the back. Miri hissed her irritation and settled back down.
"Good for you, Harry," Hermione smiled.
In the Great Hall, Harry sat next to Seamus and Ron, Hermione sitting next to Ginny and Dean across from him. Seamus put an arm around him, so Miri exasperatedly flew over to perch on Hermione.
Soon, though, they realized that Harry couldn't use his right arm with Seamus' left across him, and Seamus couldn't eat with his left hand. Both of them laughed, and joined in the usual Friday conversations – Quidditch Practice, Hogsmeade, upcoming parties and the like.
At the end of dinner, Dumbledore stood. "I have a special announcement for all of you seventh years. The rest of you may go."
There was a rustling as the entire group of the first through sixth years shuffled out of the Hall, looking curious.
"As you know from Care of Magical Creatures, Snargons are often kept as pets. After speaking with them through our resident Parseltongue," everyone looked at Harry, "some have decided to stay, and will be choosing which students to stay with."
Ten Snargons flew in, a rainbow of colors.
Two flew to Slytherin, one, a rose color with soft blue eyes, went to Blaise. He looked around, obviously ready to fight anyone who made fun of her, but no one did. The other, a swirling pale blue and lavender with golden eyes, went to Pansy.
Two went to Gryffindor. The first, a brilliant green, landed carefully on a startled Neville, and the other, black with purple eyes, went to Hermione, whose expression of shock rivaled Neville's.
Three went to Ravenclaw, a yellow with dark blue eyes to Cho Chang, and two to students that, Harry realized with a start, he didn't know.
The same thing happened at the Hufflepuff table. A silvery-white with dark green eyes went to Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Harry didn't know the other two students. He recognized everyone, and had probably talked to them all at one time or another, but he couldn't come up with names.
How odd, he though. Years of rivalry with the Slytherins meant that he knew every Slytherin seventh year's name, but Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, the more neutral Houses, were also the less known Houses.
Everyone with a Snargon rushed to Harry, wanting to know names. Cho's was Sunny, the other two Ravenclaws' (Adam and Rachel, apparently) were named Elf and Casey. Blaise's was, of course, Rose, and Pansy's was Mel (short for Melissa, she told Harry). Justin's was Snow, which surprised Harry, who doubted that the fire-lizard had ever even seen snow. He stuck to his name, though, and Harry informed Justin with a shrug. The other two (whose names he didn't catch) had Snargons called Whitney and Jack. Finally he managed to get to his own House. Hermione's was named Kerri and Neville's was named Matt.
Author's Note: Okay, this was an awkward place to end, but I realized when I was trying to upload it that I hadn't left a good break. Also, I know that cannon Draco most likely wouldn't get the Muggle references, but for now, it's a case of know thy enemy. Or at least those who Lucius considered the enemy. The whole glasses thing belongs to someone else, although I think in that person's story it was Draco who yelled Finite Incantatum. If anyone knows the other, I'd like to attribute the idea to them, but I can't find the story. Also, reviews are welcome, as are ideas.