Sorry for the delay...here's the next chapter!

Harry Potter and the Secrets Within

Chapter 4 – Attacked

Sirius stared at Harry in admiration and fascination. James had a similar expression on his face, completely forgetting his anger towards the other boy. The bell rang for lunch and the class filed out quickly. Harry stayed behind, arranging his detention with Winchcombe. Remus met the two boys outside the classroom and smirked at the looks plastered on their faces.

"Not as bad as you thought, is he James?" Remus asked. James shook his head.

"I think I like that kid," Sirius mused. "He's got guts."

"He still makes me uneasy," Peter said. "He's hiding something."

"Oh what does it matter?" Remus asked. "Honestly, everyone has secrets. Just because he doesn't like to talk about his parents doesn't mean that he's some mass murderer, you know."

"We know, Remus. We're just innocently curious," James said.

Thy walked in silence to the Great Hall, and took their seats. James looked down the table and saw Lily chatting with a few of her girl friends. His attention turned to the tall double doors and waited, watching. Harry never entered. He looked over at his friends, who were whispering to each other, plotting. James stood and they looked up.

"Where are you off to?" Sirius asked, eyeing him curiously. James shrugged.

"I left my Transfiguration book in the tower, I'll meet you in class," he said simply. He turned and left the hall, walking through the halls without thinking.

He stopped when he heard voices ahead. He inched forward, and peered around the corner in time to see Harry being slammed up against the stone wall. A look of pure shock and horror crossed Harry's features as a wand was pointed at his throat. James saw that the wand belonged to Lucius Malfoy and he had to hold back from jumping out to attack. There were more Slytherins surrounding Harry.

He didn't stand a chance. James watched, waiting for the opportune moment.

"So," Malfoy hissed. "The new mudblood thinks he can try to impress his new classmates. It might've worked, had you been a Slytherin."

"I'd kill myself if I were a slime ball like you," Harry spat. Malfoy pressed the tip of his wand under Harry's chin, cutting off Harry's words and making it harder to breathe.

"Watch your mouth!" Malfoy growled.

"You're just angry because you couldn't get the potion right, isn't that it?" Harry whispered. He doubled over when Malfoy's fist collided with his stomach. Malfoy punched Harry's stomach again, making Harry grunt in pain.

"Never speak to me like that!" Malfoy shrieked. "Do you know who you are talking to?" he slammed his fist down on the small of Harry's back, sending the boy to his knees, still clutching his stomach and gasping.

"That's enough, Malfoy," James said, stepping out from behind the corner.

"Well look who it is," Snape sneered, appearing next to Malfoy. "Come to get your little half-blood friend?"

"Back off," James said, stepping forward and drawing his wand. "He never did anything to you."

"He's a mudblood. A pureblood like you shouldn't care about him," Malfoy said dangerously.

James didn't get a chance to answer. Malfoy was sent crashing to the floor, a shocked expression on his face. Harry sent another kick out, hitting Snape in the knees. James hexed two of the Slytherins that lunged for Harry and the rest of the Slytherins fled, Malfoy shouting to them as they ran:

"You won't get away with this!"

James walked slowly up to Harry, who had replaced his hands to his stomach. He knelt down and looked Harry in the eyes. James gently brushed his fingers over a red mark on Harry's cheek that looked like it had come from a sharp smack to the face.

"Thanks," Harry whispered, his eyes going downcast in shame.

"Are you okay? Do you need to go to the Hospital Wing?" James asked worriedly, eyeing Harry's flushed face.

"No – I'm alright, really. I've been through worse, I can take a few punches," he laughed weakly, trying to get to his feet. James helped him, frowning still. Harry denied all James's offers for the Hospital Wing, and James led the other boy to Transfiguration class.

Harry limped slightly due to the pain in his knee from falling, but he said nothing. He took a seat next to James, who was still giving him a concerned look. The rest of class filed in soon after, but Harry was lost in hi thoughts.

James smiled at Sirius, who gave him and Harry an odd look. He mouthed that he'd explain later and Sirius took a seat in the table behind him. Remus sat next to him and Harry tried to ignore his questioning stare. He laid his head on the desk and sighed.

They had Transfiguration with Ravenclaw while Peter had Muggle Studies and Lily had Arithmancy. McGonagall entered the room silently and the class got ready to start.

Harry didn't really pay attention. Being next to his long dead father was making it hard to concentrate. He was letting his mind wander, unnoticed by everyone. Questions kept drifting through his mind and he found himself frowning deeper and deeper.

Why had his father come to help him?

Did he somehow know that he was being attacked?

Was there a reason he was attacked in the first place?

"Mr. Parker!" McGonagall's voice interrupted his thoughts. James nudged him and jerked his head to the front of class, where McGonagall was watching him, her lips pursed together. He sat straight.

"Sorry Professor," he said quickly. "What were you saying?"

"I was asking whether or not you knew the spell to change a bird into a vase," she replied tightly. Harry shook his head.

"I don't, ma'am," he replied. She sighed and went back to her lecture on vases and birds. Harry let his head fall to the desk again.


When class was over, they had fifteen minutes for break before their next class. Harry checked his schedule he'd written out for himself.

Monday:

Breakfast

9 o'clock – 12 Double Potions

Lunch

1 o'clock – 4 Double Transfiguration

4:15 – 5:45 Care of Magical Creatures

Dinner

He looked up as a shadow fell over him. James plopped down next to him on the stairs and smiled.

"Feeling better?" he asked. Harry nodded.

"What? Were you sick, Harry?" Remus asked. James opened his mouth but Harry got there first.

"Yeah, I had a small stomach ache, but I'm fine now. It was probably just nerves, no need to worry about me. Hey we're going to be late, we better go," he said all this rather quickly before running off. Sirius blinked.

"Well, he's right, we are going to be late," he said, checking his watch. Remus turned his penetrating gaze to James.

"What really happened?" he asked.

"I'll tell you in the common room after dinner," James promised. "But I have to go before I'm late for Charms."

"I have Magical Creatures, what about you Remus?" Sirius asked, standing up.

"Same here. See you at dinner, James," Remus waved and the group parted. Sirius and Remus plodded down the stairs and ran through the grass to the edge of the forest, arriving just in time for class to start.

"Good afternoon, class," Professor Kettleburn said as he came from the forest.

Professor Kettleburn was a large, burly man with a chubby face. He had three fingers on his left hand and four on his right. He had a wooden leg from the knee down on his right and part of his left ear was missing. He hobbled over with a large box in his hands that was emitting loud hissing.

Harry flinched and covered his ears. Remus gave him an odd look. The box shuddered and shook in Kettleburn's arms, and he set it down quickly.

"Today we are going to learn about the Runespoor. Who can tell me what a runespoor is? Mr. Lupin?" Kettleburn pointed to Remus, who was waving his arm in a very Hermione-like manner.

"A Runespoor is a three headed snake that can grow from six to seven feet in length. They are usually orange and black in color and its fangs are filled with deadly poison, for which there is no cure," Remus recited. The class stared at the closed box in horror.

"Very good, Mr. Lupin! Three points to Gryffindor!" Kettleburn said with a bright smile. He knelt down and took the lid of the box in his hands.

"In here I have a fully grown Runespoor for us to study. I want you all to get back now, so it won't bite you," Kettleburn opened the box slightly and the long snake slithered out. The three heads were hissing madly at each other and Harry lowered his hands.

They seemed to be arguing over something. The right head snapped at the left while the middle hissed and watched on. Even the Slytherins paled.

"The Dark Lord will have your head!"

"Not if I have it first!"

"Puny humans…"

"You will all die!"

"Die!"

"Die!"

They chanted over and over, screaming at the students that didn't understand. But Harry did. His eyes widened and he took a step back.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Remus whispered to him. Harry nodded slightly, giving Remus a horrified look.

"Just –," he stopped, realizing he was speaking in Parseltongue. Remus's eyes widened.

"J-Just fine!" Harry squeaked, covering his mouth. Remus stared at him in horror. Harry shrank back, before running from the rest of the class without looking back. The snakes had stopped hissing and were staring at him.

"He speaks the tongue!"

"Follow the boy!"

The Runespoor hissed wildly again and started after the fleeing boy. Remus, sensing the fear in Harry as the snake had been released from its confinement, pulled out his wand. Kettleburn also pulled out his wand.

Remus sent stunning spells at the furious animal, and its heads turned to look at him. His eyes went wide as the snake advanced on him. He turned his head and saw that Harry was nowhere in sight.

The orange snake reared its ugly heads and uncovered their inch long fangs. It lunged at Remus, who flinched, covering his face with his arms. It was stopped short however.

The fangs of the middle snake were just centimeters away from Remus's exposed skin and it hissed angrily, whipping its heads around in pain. Sirius threw his arms around the frozen Remus's waist and pulled him back. Most of the class had already fled. Remus looked up to see what had happened.

Harry stood, his wand aimed at the snake, which was being held in place by a large boulder crushing its body. Harry lowered his wand and backed away, circling around the large snake and going to Remus's side.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Remus nodded hesitantly, shaking all over with suppressed fear. "Did it bite you?"

Remus shook his head, answering with a silent negative. Harry's shoulders slumped in relief. Kettleburn wrestled the snake back into the crate, the three heads still hissing madly.

"Kill the boy!"

Kettleburn secured the cover of the large box and wiped sweat from his brow. He clapped his hands together and nodded at the only pupils that were left at the class. He took a deep breath, picking up the box and heading back to the forest.

"Um – very good Mr. Parker – Er – Ten points to Gryffindor, class dismissed!" With that, he ran into the forest and out of sight. Harry looked at Remus cautiously. Remus looked back at him. No one said anything for a while, then Remus smiled.

"Thanks Harry," he said.

"Yeah – uh – no problem," Harry blushed. Sirius grinned.

"Harry, you're my hero!" he said dramatically. Harry sputtered.

"What? I – but it – it was –," he stuttered. Sirius laughed.

"I'm just kidding around. Come on, let's get dinner, I'm starving!" he bounded off towards the castle. Harry looked over at Remus again, fear flashing in his eyes.

"Who are you going to tell?" he asked.

"Tell what?" Remus asked lightly. "In my mind I know nothing about snake language, nor anyone who speaks it." Harry threw his arms around the taller boy, startling him.

"Thank you," Harry whispered, releasing Remus. Remus smiled.

"Let's go, before Padfoot eats everything."


No cliffhanger this time! But have no fear, I'll try harder next time.

Reviews! I am loved!

All information on the Runespoor was taken from Fantastc Beasts& Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander. (Property of Harry Potter)

Tant - Yes we do

Katanajake - Er - Thanks

Southpaw - Don't worry about being redundant, I like people telling me things over and over ('cuz I do it too)

loonygrl90 - I'm flattered! It only gets better! (I hope)

aight - That's funny, I don't care who 'yeh are (lol)

Serenity - I will, promise!

Tigilus Ramelius - The nightmares...those are coming up, don't you worry...

nerd2006 - Thanks for keeping with it!