A/n: Thank you all that have reviewed. For thoughs that are interested Harry and Neville will not be resorted. As for the paring Neville and Blaze will get together first, followed by Draco and the OC, then finally what we have all been waiting for Harry and Snape, but that won't happen for a wile.
Miki23: I really enjoy reading the reviews that you leave me. I love that way that Neville has turned out in this, I always like to think that he exploded him potions on purpose, just for a little revenge. Harry and Neville don't loose points left and right because they don't want to be attacked at every turn by the Gryffindors. Thank you again for your wonderful reviews.
Anux: Neville and Blaze will get together first, then Draco and the OC, then Harry and Snape.
Irihi Safaia: slaps forehead and shakes head Oh no people are officially addicted to my story…. /grin/ at least I'm not dangerous to your health… I think…
HazelWolf111: LOLOL sounds like you had a little too much sugar /grabs the cookie out of her hands/ Glad that you like the story.
Gryphnwing: To be vary cliché: Things are never as they seem. Part of your question about Voldi and Dumbledore will be answered.
Jbcna: Thank you. I like your name, does it mean anything?
Daughter of Darkness777: Oh I know what you mean by the school work, with finals coming up I'm swamped. Glad you like it.
Rob: Glad you liked it, hope that you like this chapter just as much.
Ti3nl3i: Yes, I always thought that Neville blew the cauldrons to get back at Snape. I don't really like how J. K. Rowling portays Neville so I tried to come op for a reason that he would act like he dose, I think that I've come up with a good reason. But, we'll get into that in another chapter.
Athenakitty: The answer to your questions are as follows: No, Harry will not leak the conversations, No, Harry already has his replacement potion ingredients, Yes, Harry will be learning new spells for protection, No, the boys will have help with the Animagus training, they will not be resorted, and Snape will eventually find out that Harry's snake likes him. Thanks for taking such an interest in the story.
UAS Jeanette: Well it seams that we were both wrong. I thought that along with the Phonix feather he had some unicorn hair as well, what he realy has is a Phonix feather and holly. I will change it eventually.
Dhennan: They will find out eventually, and Neville suspects something already. Glad that you like the story.
Schwarz-Katze: No, Harry and Neville will not be resorted. Glad you like the story.
SensiblyTainted: Glad that you like the seen with Draco, I wasn't too sure about it. I try to keep my chapters about 8 pages long, every now and then I will try to make them longer.
Pure Black: Thank you, hope you like this one as well.
Opal: Some of the teachers have, but because of Dumbledore they have not done anything about it. The mane teacher who will start to notes more will be Snape.
Rayz: Yes, cliff hangers are evil, but then again so am I. Hope that this was out soon enough for you.
Sala: Thank you, hope you like this chapter.
LoveHP: Thank you, I am trying for something that has not been done before, so fare I think I'm succeeding.
Lady-Slytherin-Snape: Thank you, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Mistress of Disaster: Cookies! Really! YAYAYAYAY I got offered my first cookie/Hug/… Ok…. Back to er.. normal? Well sorry about the ciffy I don't think that this will be much better, but at least it will ensure that you will read the next chapter.
SlavexToxThexPotionsxMaster: Wow that is a finger full to write. I'm glad that you think this original, it's what I'm going for. Harry's house hates him because they fear him.
CtrlAltDelete: Thank you, hope you enjoy this chapter.
Merynne: Hope this chapter is worth the wait. In the books I always saw the headmaster as a person who got his kicks by manipulating people, so that is how I portrayed him in this.
D-daygirl: Thank you, hope you like the chapter.
SolitaryPoison/Blush/ thanks… I don't know what to say. I hope that this chapter meets with your approval.
XyBulmaXy: Thank you, and yes I am feeling better.
Icklecassikins/Meep, runs and hides behind invisible wall. Wait that didn't work well at all, Pout/ Sorry to say that this staff did belong to Merlin but also several other wizards, I hope that it is not too disappointing…
Sexy-emerald-babe666: Lol. Glad that you like the story. No Harry and Neville will not be resorted, and you will just have to wait to see what happens to Dumbledore.
Darkanglefrmhell: Glad that you are liking the small amounts of subtle humor I put into the story.
Chapter 4
His heart pounding in his ears, Harry spun around as he searched for the speaker. No one was there.
/Over here./
Hearing the voice again, Harry spun around for a second time, still not seeing any one around him. With a start he realized that he could no longer hear the whispering in the back of his head. "Who's there?" He asked his voice shaking slightly.
/I'm right here; in your hand./ the voice answered him.
Glancing down at his right hand, he was surprised to note that he was still holding the staff that he had grabbed earlier. His eyes widened.
/That's right, a stick of wood is talking to you./
Harry just stared in disbelief, "What is going on?" he questioned.
/I am a staff: your staff to be more exact. I help wizards whose magic is too powerful to be contained by a wand. What most don't know is that all staffs have a consciousness of sorts, which is why I can talk to you right now. I will be the one to teach you how to use me correctly. I will also teach you many spell that have not been seen for hundreds of years./
Harry just stood there staring at the talking stick. It was taking him awhile to process the information that was being given to him. Finally, he appeared to rouse from his stupor. "Wait, so how will you be able to teach me spells that have been forgotten? How would you even know of them?"
/I was created in the time of Merlin, when he was still learning how to use and control his own magic. Over time he became the first wizard of six that I have been partnered with, seven now with you. I remember every spell and every tactic that the previous six wizards used. Now I shall be passing that information on to you./
Harry nodded his head, smiling slightly at the thought of all the information that he would be acquiring.
/Perhaps we should leave now so that no one will begin to miss you./
Nodding, Harry turned to the door, happy to be going out of the small stifling room. After opening the door with a creak, Harry stepped back into Ollivander's main room. Harry could not help gazing into the dark eyes of Snape as he handed Hassi back. They both stared for a moment before breaking the gaze.
Upon seeing Harry, Ollivander sucked in a deep breath; his eyes wide, staring at the staff Harry held. When Harry opened his pocket to get out some coins Ollivander stopped him with a raised hand, "No there is no charge."
After nodding his head to Ollivander, Harry turned his attention back to Snape. As soon as he had Harry's attention, Snape turned and strode back to the fireplace at the front of the store. With a last nod at Ollivander, Harry quickly caught up to Snape who already had a handful of powder.
"The Headmaster of Hogwarts," he stated clearly before stepping through. Following him Harry managed to stay on his feet using his newly acquired staff for balance.
The Headmaster sat just as how they left him, behind the desk. "Ah, Harry I see that you found a replacement for your wand."
Nodding his head, Harry made for the door, hoping to return to his rooms.
"Harry," Said Dumbledore as he watched Harry's retreating form, "Perhaps your Staff would like to get acquainted with mine?"
/Do not accept that offer. But, go ahead and ask him your question./
Startled, Harry realized that it would take him awhile to get used to something reading his mind before he was aware of his own thoughts. He turned and looked Dumbledore in the eye while lifting his eyebrow, "I was not aware that you had one."
Dumbledore grinned agreeably, his eyes twinkling, "Why yes, I do happen to have one. However, I prefer to limit myself to my wand while in public."
'Of course, it's easer to manipulate people when they are tricked into thinking that you are just a defenseless doddering old man,' thought Harry, and felt silent agreement from his staff.
"My staff wishes me to convey that it does not wish to meet your staff, Headmaster." Then with a final nod of his head toward Snape, he turned once again to walk out of the office.
Sighing in relief, Harry stepped into his room and collapsed onto one of the couches. Closing his eyes he allowed his mind to drift and his body to relax. He felt himself beginning to drift off to sleep when he felt a probing at his mind. He was awake instantly and slammed down the shields guarding his mind. He found the probe and followed it, expecting it to lead to Voldemort as it usually did. Instead it led right to his staff.
"What….?" Harry trailed off, not knowing what to say.
/I'm sorry. You were relaxed and I thought it might be a good opportunity to get to know you. We won't be able to accomplish much if I don't know you and your mind./
There are a lot of things that I don't want anyone to know…. Some things that I just want to forget." Harry whispered to his staff.
/Who am I going to tell? Just please, relax and let me in. We only need to do this once and then I will never ask again, I will not ask you about anything that I see unless you wish it, you need to learn to trust me./
Harry sighed but nodded his head. He leaned back and closed his eyes, this was as relaxed as he was going to get.
He felt the Staff probing once again and forced himself not to reinforce his shields, instead he opened them. Thoughts and images began to flash before his eyes.
He was six years old, lying on a cot on the floor in the cupboard under the stairs, crying after being beaten by his uncle, wishing his mother was there.
"How Dare You!" Screamed Vernon at a ten year old Harry. The man's face was flushed a deep purple. "We clothe you. We feed you. We pay for your education. And you repay us by doing your freaky unnatural things where people can see you!"
"You are a good for nothing," Yelled his uncle as he slapped and beat him, "lazy, ungrateful boy. A freak that that doesn't deserve the small space that he takes up in this world." Finished the man picked up the five and a half year old and threw him into the cupboard.
The fourteen year old stood making breakfast for the family when a glass plate fell from his bruised and broken fingers.
The door opened behind him and Harry turned to see Vernon standing there. Once again his face with its many chins turning the color of a radish.
"How. Dare. You." His voice was low and dangerous. Slowly Vernon advanced upon his nephew. Grabbing Harry's hand he slammed it down upon the hot stove.
The eleven year old looked upon a grand castle for the first time.
Freak.
A twelve year old Harry retuned home from another unbearable summer at the Dursley's
Pain
Fear
Happiness
Joy
Breathing hard, Harry snapped out of the many memories that bombarded his mind. Tears ran down his cheeks unchecked while he was forced to relive events that he most wished to forget. Going into his room Harry went to his desk and pulled out a vial of dreamless sleep potion which he downed before collapsing onto the bed.
Awaking Harry saw that only a few hours had passed wile he slept. Getting up Harry walked to where he had left his staff resting on the couch and sat down. "So how am I supposed to do magic now?" He questioned it, intent upon ignoring the events of the previous day.
/It's not that hard actually./ The staff answered . /Close your eyes and picture your magic as a long everlasting flow of power. Now, think of that power flowing through your which is holding me. All you need to learn is to do this everyday so that you are prepared for an attack. Once your power is flowing to me, you think of what you want done. For right now, you need to say the words like you did when you used your wand. Eventually you will only need to think the spell and I will be able to do the rest./
Nodding his head in understanding, Harry thought of his magic flowing through his arm and into the staff. Then looking around he saw a quill lying on a table. Thinking of the quill floating above the table, he said the words aloud.
The quill slowly began to lift into the air, and then stop to float a few feet above the table. Smiling, Harry began to cast spells, one after another, anything that came to mind. He summoned everything, big and small, cast curses, hexes, jinxes and charms.
He stopped practicing after he finished dispelling a high level charm that summoned thousands to flowers to rain down onto the caster. After everything had been cleaned up and put back in place Harry sat back on the couch into the couch, he wasn't even tired!
There was a loud band that resonated through the room as the portrait slammed open and Neville ran through carrying a viper in his arms.
"Halssa?" Harry questioned, startled when he recognized the viper held in Neville's arms.
"Something is wrong with this snake," said Neville, "She was just lying there breathing fast when her scales began to turn gray."
Taking a better look as the viper Harry saw that the scales were indeed gray at the edges. "Halssa," he hissed quietly, "I need you to tell me what happened,"
"I was in the dungeons where I usually am when I ate a strange tasting mouse. Now I can not breath and my body feels as if it were laced with fire. I made my body expel the mouse but I still feel unwell." The viper hissed back breathlessly.
Grabbing his staff, Harry wordlessly took the snake from Neville and went into his room. Neville followed behind him and watched as he opened his trunk and began rummaging.
"What are you going to do," questioned Neville.
"I know that Halssa was poisoned, but I don't know by what but I do know someone who might," said Harry as he quickly searched the trunk, finally pulling out a piece of paper.
Opening the paper he tapped his wand and murmured, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The piece of paper began to transform into a map of Hogwarts. "Severus Snape," Harry said loud and clear.
Now knowing where he was going Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and swung it around himself and both Hassi and Hallsa.
Following the map, Harry made his way down to the dungeons, through long twisting corridors. He stopped in front of a portrait of the founder of Slytherin House.
Tucking the map away Harry revealed himself from under the invisibility cloak. Salazar watched him, his eyes unreadable. "I need to speak with the Professor," said Harry showing Salazar Hallsa, "her name is Hallsa and she will die if she doesn't get help."
Salazar gazed at him for a long time before nodding his head, "Wait here. I will ask if he will see you." He finished speaking and then he disappeared from the portrait.
Harry wait impatiently for Salazar to reappear, absentmindedly stroking a finger down Hallsa's scaled body. Silently the portrait opened. Taking the hint, Harry stepped into the private quarters of Severus Snape.
Harry walked into the living room and immediately noticed the comfortable well worn looking chair and couch sitting before a roaring fire. The room's walls were all hidden by bookshelves that were near to exploding with books. A clearing of the throat brought his attention to the man standing to the right of him.
Severus Snape was dressed in black silk pants that clung to his skin and were cut off a few inches before his naval to emphasize his trip hips. His torso was covered by a white button down shirt that didn't quite touch his pants and Harry's appreciative gaze was immediately drawn to the small patch of bare skin. His hair had been washed clean of all oil and was pulled back with a black ribbon at the nape of his neck while his feet had been left bare.
"If you are done gawking Mr. Potter, perhaps you could tell me why you felt the need to visit me in my private quarters well after curfew?" Severus raised an amused eyebrow.
Swallowing, Harry nodded an affirmative. His eyes were still wide as he began, "Yes, Sir. One of my snakes has been poisoned and I'm not sure by what. She ate a mouse that had been coated in the stuff. She managed to regurgitate the mouse but now she is having trouble breathing. And, she says she feels as if her body is being laced with fire." He brought the snake forward to show Severus.
Severus gave Harry a calculating stare before nodding his head and holding his hand out to take the snake. "Will she bite me if I perform some tests?" he asked.
"No," Harry answered as he nodded his head negatively.
Trusting that Harry spoke the truth, Severus took the snake then gestured for Harry to follow as he walked through a doorway that led into the room that served as his private potions lab.
After placing the snake on a workbench, Snape picked up a needle that he carefully inserted between some scales and extracted some blood. Harry watched as he then placed a sample of the blood in three separate bowls. After adding different potions to the three bowls, Severus finally nodded to himself in a pleased manner.
"Your snake has been poisoned by a simple but effective compound." Stated the Potions Master as he grabbed a bottle filled with a milky substance and then summoned an eyedropper and milk. With the eyedropper he sucked up some milk and the potion and then shook the mixture. "Have the snake drink seven drops of this. You may use one of the seats over there by the fire." When he was finished speaking he handed Harry the snake and the eyedropper.
Taking the snake, Harry made his way back to the front room and sat down on the couch. He gently placed Halssa down on his legs where she could rest comfortably. "Drink" he hissed quietly as he held her mouth open with one hand and placed the dropper toward the back of her tilted back throat. He carefully counted out seven drops and then removed the dropper before making sure the viper swallowed.
Harry sat back and held the snake for several minutes before the potion began to work. He watched in relief as her scales began to return to their normal color. "Feel better?" He hissed at her.
She hissed an affirmative then began to sleep peacefully.
Snape watched expressionlessly as Harry nursed the snake then turned to take a seat opposite of him. Sending out his mind he began to press against Harry's and nodded in satisfaction when he felt Harry shield himself. He pressed for a moment before backing off. "You have been practicing your occlumency. However, I could have gotten past your shields had I wanted too."
Harry just shrugged his shoulders, "There is only so much you can do on your own."
"Headmaster Dumbledore has told me that you have rejected his teaching, I was under the impression that you would be doing everything under your power to win this war," continued Snape.
"Not by him I won't." Harry said as he shook his head. "There is no one else who can or is willing to teach me… unless you are reconsidering, Sir?"
Snape narrowed his eyes, "Why should I do that? Especially after what happened the last time." He questioned.
Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I have already mad my apologies for that, Sir. There is nothing further that I can do but assure you that it will not happen again."
"And what do you want if I do reconsider?" questioned Snape.
"Everything," answered Harry promptly, "I want you to teach me to duel against a Death Eater, learn to cast and counter all the high power spells you know, learn to defend myself against the dark arts, anything that you know and you think will benefit me during this war."
Snape raised his eyebrow considering the boy sitting in front of him. "Would I be teaching only you?"
Harry thought for a moment, "No, I want to include Neville in this. He needs the training as much as I do."
"Do you honestly think that Mr. Longbottom is competent enough to learn what you are asking?" Snape questioned him.
"Neville is much more than what he appears to be," Harry answered quietly.
Snape leaned back and closed his eyes while he thought allof this over. He opened his eyes again to see Harry's attention had shifted from him to the snake in his lap.
Halssa stirred in Harry's lap, hissing sotly. "Halssa, can you hear me?" he questioned.
Halssa opened on eye sleepily, "Yes."
"How are you feeling?"
"Better," hissed the viper as she closed her eye and went back to sleep.
Harry looked up at Snape and saw that he was watching him. "Thank you, Sir. She says she is doing much better now and is resting peacefully."
Snape nodded his head before rising from the couch. Harry watched as he walked over to a different closed door, opened it, walked in, then closed it again. Moments later he reemerged wearing a black robe over his clothes and a pair of dragon hide boots. "If you wish me to train both you and Mr. Longbottom then we must talk, and we will be talking in your rooms," stated Snape.
Harry gathered up his vipers and followed Snape back up through the winding corridors of the school until they reached another portrait of Salazar Slytherin almost identical to the one in the dungeons.
The man looked down upon Harry, "How is the little snake?" he inquired.
"She is doing well, thank you for asking. Black Roses," said Harry.
The two walked in and spotted Neville sitting in one of the chairs reading. He looked up upon hearing the portrait open. "Harry?" He exclaimed as he jumped up. "How is she?"
"She is doing fine. Is this a good time for us to talk?" Harry nodded toward Snape standing just inside the door..
Neville sat back down and waited, knowing what Harry wanted to discuss. His eyes widened slightly when he was handed the still sleeping viper before Harry sat down in the chair to his right.
Harry pointed to the chair on the left of Neville and Snape sat down and looked at the two boys, "I have decided that I will train the both of you, but there will be certain restrictions that you will have to abide by. You will neither argue with what I teach you, nor with my teaching methods. I demand your full respect, which includes promptness and attentiveness."
Harry and Neville looked to one another then to Snape before nodding firmly.
