Summary: Harry's second day is spent being tailed by a suspiciously smart cat. He makes a new friend and an old one drops by for a visit.
Author Note: Thank you to all my reviewer... I mean that I only have had one... what's wrong with you people... you know that purple button is inviteing... Go on CLICK IT! Go on I dare you... even if it's just to flame me... yes you heard me right THIS FIC ACCEPTS FLAMES! and now for something completely different...
Chapter 2
Shra's Sight
Voldemort turned on Harry and with Harry's own wand cried out "Avada Kedavra!" A green light rushed toward Harry.
Harry sat up in bed. 'Not again' he thought. He rubbed his hands over his eyes and put on his glasses. The room was incredibly still. He stood up and walked over the window. Looking out into the street he could swear he saw a cat sitting on the wall of the house across the street. It looked familiar somehow. Then he suddenly knew. He smiled, a rare occasion since the third task. He was about to go outside to greet her, when Denekar started crying. Harry hastily picked her up and calmed her down. He didn't want Uncle Vernon waking up. He pulled a blanket out of the cot and wrapped it around Denekar. He then selected a bottle from the warmer; Aunt Petunia had replaced the bottles while he was at the zoo. After he had done that he went down stairs and out the front door. He held the bottle for Denekar as he watched the cat eye him sceptically then trot across the street.
"Professor." Harry said in a manner of greeting. The cat looked up and down the street before transforming into Hogwarts' strict deputy head.
"Mr. Potter, What may I ask are you doing out at this time of night, with an infant no less?" She replied.
"This is my new cousin Denekar, as for the untimely hour I could ask you the same thing."
"The headmaster sent me to watch out for you. What did you think I'd be doing here? Trying to pluck up the courage to ask you out?" McGonagall replied with just the slightest touch of sarcasm. Harry was trying to think of something to say when he was saved by Denekar who hiccuped. Harry shifted her from lying down to a vertical position and burped her. "You certainly seemed to have become a baby expert." McGonagall said looking at the young baby with a small smile on her face.
"It's only the third time I've fed her." Harry replied, his cheeks a little redder than normal. "Would you like to hold her?" He asked returning the favour and making McGonagall blush. Harry didn't let McGonagall reply instead he handed her the seemingly amused infant. Like Harry had done last night she instinctively raised her arms to cradle Denekar. There seemed to be something special about her.
"It's been a long time since I've done this." She said. There seemed to be a note of pain in her voice so Harry didn't pursue it.
"I don't think she's muggle." Harry said out of nowhere. McGonagall looked at him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, she despises Uncle Vernon, she never cries when she's with me and well, yesterday she got hold of my wand and let loose sparks."
"Hmm, I'll have someone come by to check." Denekar shifted and made an uncomfortable noise. McGonagall handed her back to Harry.
"She needs changing. Ah, care to come in, Professor?" McGonagall nodded a little and changed back into her cat form. They went inside and up to Harry's room. "Have a seat," Harry said indicating his bed, "How long have you been out there Professor?"
"Since about eight last night."
"Are you watching over the house or me?"
"You."
"And how long are you going to be watching me for?"
"Till Arabella gets back from Saint Mungo's so until tomorrow afternoon I should think." Harry wondered who Arabella was but thought of something more important to ask.
"Then I'll suppose you'll want to come with me to work in the morning."
"You got a job? When He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named could jump at you at any time."
"If we stop living a normal life just because Voldemort's back then he's already won."
"You sound just like Albus. Alright I'll accompany you tomorrow." Harry put Denekar in her cot having changed her.
"It's at the zoo. I'm the snake keeper."
"I should have known. I assume you're keeping your wand accessible at all times." Harry dug out his wand from under the loose floorboard.
"Should I be?"
"Of course you should be. You need to be able to defend yourself. Well anyway, I should be leaving. I'll see you tomorrow." With that McGonagall changed into a cat and left the room. Harry heard the door open then shut again.
Harry walked over to his trunk and rummaged around inside looking for something to occupy his mind until morning. He pulled out the first book he laid his hands on and read the title. It was one of Lockhart's books from his second year at Hogwarts. Disgusted he threw it back into the trunk and made a mental note to sell them to Perkins' Pre-loved Products, the second hand shop in Diagon Alley. He pulled out a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour beans and carefully sniffed a light blue bean that had an orange stripe going down it. He'd never seen one like this before. He nibbled a bit off the end and tasted it. It tasted like some sort of meat but he'd never had it before. He wasn't sure what kind of meat it was, but it tasted nice so Harry ate the rest of the bean.
Looking in his trunk again, Harry noticed something special that Hagrid had given him in his first year. A photo album, with pictures of his parents. He sat down on his bed with the beans and the photo album. There were still a number of photos with people he didn't know. He spent quite a while looking at the first picture. It was the last picture his parents had been in, taken a week before they were betrayed and murdered. Harry looked at their smiling faces. James waved and Lily rushed out of the frame and came back with a laughing baby in her arms. Harry stared at the picture; he had never been in that photo before. He waved to his younger self, who covered his eyes with his hands.
Harry smiled and absently tossed a bean into his mouth. It tasted dry, then he realised what it was. Toilet Paper! Harry took the half chewed bean out of his mouth disgusted. Little Harry in the photo laughed and pointed, Harry turned the page. This was a photo of James and a few other people at a party of some sort. Harry recognised Sirius, Remus and Lily, but there two other girls there he couldn't place, but the picture was taken when they were about seven. He might know the girls but they may look a lot different now. Harry spent a couple of hours looking at the photo album, after all each was rarely the same. When Harry finally closed the album, it was getting light outside. Harry put the album and the rest of the beans back into his trunk and went for a hot shower.
After he was sufficiently clean, he went back into his room and got changed, making sure he had a pocket large enough to hide his wand. He was just about to put his shoes on when Denekar started crying again. Had it really been that long since he fed her last night?
"Boy, shut that baby up!" Uncle Vernon was just getting up. Harry picked up Denekar and fed her. He looked at his clock. The red light glowed 7:34. He didn't have to be at the zoo till 9:30 and it took him about half an hour to ride there so he had to leave no later then 9:00, but he wanted to get there early. He burped Denekar and changed her. Leaving her on the change table he opened a chest of drawers that had been put into his room, and sure enough there were baby clothes in there. Harry smiled and pulled out a little sailor suit type thing and showed it to Denekar.
"What about this?" He asked. Denekar crossed her eyes and poked out her tongue in a clear 'don't make me sick' face. Harry put it back in and pulled out a red dress with white dots. Denekar didn't seem to object much, but then he assumed that there weren't any clothes that she would really like. Harry put her dress on and then went over to his bed to put his shoes on. That done he took Denekar downstairs. Aunt Petunia was busying herself in the kitchen. Harry took Denekar outside while he went and got Uncle Vernon's paper. He saw Professor McGonagall sitting on the garden wall.
"You may as well make your way to Surrey zoo now, Professor. I'll come in a minute." He said. The cat nodded then trotted off down the street. Harry took the paper inside and sat it on the table, just as Uncle Vernon came down stairs. Harry gave Denekar to Aunt Petunia. She seemed thrilled to have a baby girl. Harry ate the half grapefruit on his plate then excused himself and went and collected Dudley's bike.
When he got to the zoo he went through the door that said 'staff entrance' and noticed as a cat squeezed in behind him. He showed his pass to the security guard and began to make his way to the reptile house. He stopped about half way startling the cat that was following him. He turned and made his way to Mr. Heath's office and noting that the secretary wasn't in yet he knocked on the door.
"Come in," Mr. Heath's voice came through the door. Harry went in and closed the door after Professor McGonagall. "Harry! You're in early. What's up?" Harry turned the cat that was poised on a chair.
"Professor, would you mind?" Harry asked indicating that she change into her human form. Professor McGonagall looked at Mr. Heath as if to say, 'But he's muggle'. "Yes, he is, but his sister isn't." The cat seemed to shrug then was instantly replaced by a human. Mr. Heath seemed a little surprised but regained his composure. Harry looked at them, wondering how to start. "Mr. Heath, you know how yesterday you asked me to ask the snakes why they bit the other snake keeper?" The manager nodded. "Well they told me. It seems that you have a magical creature in the zoo." Both adults looked confused. "The lion is not a lion, it's a griffin." Mr. Heath still looked a little confused, but Professor McGonagall stood up.
"I'll go to the ministry to get someone to come and collect it. I expect you'll want a replacement?" Mr. Heath, while confused, nodded and McGonagall disappeared. Harry explained what a griffin was and after about an hour three people appeared in the room. One of the ministry officials held a small wooden box. It was still half an hour till the zoo opened. The five of them left the manager's office and went to the lion's cage. Mr. Heath unlocked it and one of the wizards from the ministry led the griffin out while the other enlarged the box, and ushered the replacement lion into the cage. The griffin was then put into the crate and it was shrunk back to the size of the small box. McGonagall picked up the box. The ministry wizards disapparated and McGonagall turned to the two left.
"I'll be taking him to Hogwarts, I believe that Hagrid would enjoy taking care of it. Griffins are about the only harmless animals Hagrid likes." Harry smiled and McGonagall disappeared as well.
"Well I best be getting to work. Oh Mr. Heath? You should probably warn the lion keeper that this one will probably be a bit more grumpy." Mr. Heath smiled and nodded. They went their separate ways.
There were only two snakes to feed so after Harry had to try and find something to do. He went to the first enclosure, the one inhabited by the Eastern Milk snake. Finding the white key to correspond to the lock, Harry unlocked the hatch and opened it.
"Hello, what can I do for you?" The snake sounded polite, with a clear feminine tone.
"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to chat, would you mind if I took you out for a while?"
"Ssssure, why not." Harry carefully picked up the milk snake and, while it curled around his arm, closed the hatch. Walking out into the main display area, Harry selected a bench and sat down.
"So, do you have a name?" Harry asked quietly
"Ssshra."
"Well Shra, is there anything about you I should know?"
"Not really, I jussst love attention."
"Well, if you can be gentle, I can promise lots of that." Harry stood up and made his way over to a large crowd that had gathered in front of the Indian Cobra's enclosure. Everyone seemed nervous and worried.
"Somebody help my baby!" A woman shrieked from the front of the group. Harry saw what was wrong. A boy of about seven had somehow found his way into the enclosure, even though the glass wasn't broken.
"Break the glass." One man suggested.
"Don't do that, you'll stir up the snake. I'll get him." Harry rushed around and frantically searched for the yellow key. Shra coiled herself onto Harry's upper arm, freeing his hands. Harry unlocked the hatch and, after opening it, saw the Indian Cobra rose up ready to strike. The boy was as far away from the snake as possible, and terrified. The light in the enclosure flickered.
"Lay down!" Harry commanded and the snake obeyed, knowing the danger was over, curling up for a sleep on the rock. Harry held his arms out for the boy who seemed scared, even without noticing Shra, but let Harry help him out.
"He isss magical." Harry heard Shra say as the boy hugged Harry around the middle.
"You can tell?" Harry asked. Shra nodded as the boy's parents came through came though the door.
"Ethan! Oh god, Ethan, you're okay." The boy's mother seemed to be in hysterics, but then so had Aunt Petunia.
"What about his parents?" Harry asked Shra
"Muggle."
"What happened Ethan?" The boy's father asked.
"One minute the glass was there, then the snake moved, and then the glass wasn't there. Why do strange things always happen when I'm around?" Ethan sounded really upset. Harry locked the door again as the boy dismayed.
"I don't know, darling." The mother said.
"I do." The family jumped. They had forgotten about Harry. "Hi, I'm Harry Potter, the snake keeper." Harry offered his hand. The man looked at it nervously, eyeing the small snake on his upper arm. "Don't mind Shra, she's gentle, most of the snakes here are, but you have to watch out for the tiger snake."
"Philip Tucker," the man said still eyeing Shra but shaking Harry's hand. "That cobra didn't seem too gentle."
"He was just scared. He's not used to anything but rats being in his enclosure."
"You said you know why strange stuff happens around me." Ethan seemed a little anxious to know. Harry paused, wondering how to phrase this.
"How old are you?" he asked the boy.
"I'll be eight in August." He seemed proud of that. Harry ushered them into an office Samuel said was for his use.
"I'm not sure if I should be telling you this, but considering how I found out it would be easier if you knew. But you must understand we try to keep to ourselves, so you can't go repeating what I am about to tell you." The mother and father nodded and Ethan still looked a bit unsure.
"You can keep a secret can't you Ethan? Because this is a really big secret and if I tell you, you have to be able to keep it." Ethan nodded too and Harry held out his little finger. "Pinkie promise?" Ethan took Harry's little finger with his and shook it. Harry smiled and turned to the family as a whole.
"Magic. Yes I mean magic, it really exists and Ethan definitely has it. Every so often there's a child in a muggle… uh that is non-magical, family that possesses magic. If you don't believe me think of all the strange occurrences surrounding your son. I'll bet everything strange that has happened around him has been either when he was angry, upset, scared or surprised. Just like then, you said you were leaning on the glass and the cobra moved, it surprised you and you accidentally magicked the glass away. I did the same thing when I was ten. Only it was the Brazilian boa and it happened because my cousin made me angry and HE fell in." Ethan laughed and Harry smiled at him.
"I thought it was pretty funny too. Pity my Aunt Petunia didn't."
"So this will keep happening? Can it be controlled?" Mr. Tucker seemed to accept that magic really existed.
"After primary school I'm sure he'll be invited to a wizarding school to learn to control his magic. While small accidents can happen at times of intense emotion they'll happen less and less as he learns to control it."
As the silence progressed from thoughtful to awkward Harry looked down at his hands. He watched Shra playfully slither over his right hand, down onto his lap then lift herself up onto his hand. Harry thought how much she looked like a living wristband. All eyes were on Shra when she started to tense. Harry shook his hand trying to get Shra to move. Just as his hand started to turn purple, Samuel appeared at the door.
"Harry, have you seen…" He stopped short seeing Shra and Harry's purple hand. He was about to say something else when Harry held up his left hand to stop him, Shra had already started talking.
"From desert to rain, Icarus travels by, but tired and in pain, he falls from the sky." As soon as she finished she loosened her grip
The room sat in silence. Harry pondered on what Shra had just said, she had spoken in the same unusually deep voice Trelawny had used after his third year exam, and it was the only time she said anything when she didn't draw out her Ss. He was about to ask her about it, but Samuel got in first.
"Uh, Harry?" Harry looked up at him and saw his eyes flicker towards the Tuckers.
"Oh, yes, well I think I've given you enough to think about, and I'm sure you want to continue on your outing." Harry stood and the Tuckers followed suit. The filed out of the office and Harry called out to Ethan.
"Remember, pinkie promise." The boy smiled and Harry watched as they left through the staff door to the reptile house.
"Harry what were they doing in here?" Samuel asked when they had gone.
"Oh they're old friends of mine." Harry lied, "I saw them and invited them back for a chat. Anyway, what did you want me for?"
"I was going to ask you if you'd seen the milk snake. It's been a bit dangerous lately. Once it managed to wrap itself around Paul's neck. We had to sedate it so he could breathe. Doctor Martin was considering putting it down." Harry was a bit alarmed.
"Don't do that. Now I'm warned I won't let her get into a position to do it again." Sam looked at him then nodded.
"Okay, I'll leave it be for now but why don't you put it back and I'll show you around." Harry nodded and put Shra back promising to talk to her tomorrow.
Sam walked with him all around the zoo introducing him to the people that worked there and showed him the cafeteria. Harry was relieved to learn that he could get lunch here and have the cost taken out of his pay directly. They grabbed some lunch and just as they sat down Harry noticed a cat jumping onto a spare seat at their table.
"Hello Professor, had lunch yet?" Sam was fascinated when the cat nodded in reply.
"It's like she understood you." Harry laughed.
"You'd be surprised. Why do you think I call her 'Professor'?" McGonagall glared at him, but he didn't notice. After lunch Sam showed Harry the rest of the zoo and then Harry made his way back to the reptile house with a tabby cat on his heels. He checked each snake before going into the staff area. There he found a note on his desk from Doctor Martin asking him to bring the milk snake down for a check up. Obviously Sam had told her about what she'd done earlier. Harry opened her enclosure and put up a sign in the window that said the snake was not available for viewing. He told Shra that the doctor wanted to look at her to make sure she was healthy. Shra promised to behave and crawled onto his waiting hands. Harry closed the hatch again and with his animagus guardian in tow went to the veterinary area.
"Hello again Harry, You've brought the milk snake I see, and a cat?"
"Uh yeah, I call her Professor."
"Oh yes, Sam mentioned a cat had met you for lunch." She didn't say anything about the cat being there, and it was later that Harry learned that word had gotten back to Mr. Heath that a cat had been following him around. Harry was amused to learn that Mr. Heath had replied that this was a zoo. There were animals everywhere and the cat was to be left alone. Harry left work that day well settled into his new job and carrying a list of the snakes, their names and food chart. But Harry was to find that his day was not yet over.
That night he was heading up to bed, quietly so not to disturb Denekar who had been put to bed hours before hand. He opened the door and saw Dobby sitting on his bed looking at Denekar. It surprised him that he was just sitting there not making a noise. Last time he was here Harry found him jumping on his bed. Dobby looked up as Harry came in and smiled.
"Miss Denekar is beautiful baby." Dobby said quietly. Harry let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding. So this would be a quiet visit. Harry smiled back at Dobby and Dobby turned back to Denekar. "Harry Potter was right about her."
"Really? Um… Right about what?" Harry asked confused.
"Being a witch."
"I didn't know that House-elves could tell." Dobby grinned at Harry again.
"Oh yes. Is part of not being seen. We is able to see auras. Them show magic or no magic. When house-elf sees aura, knows to leave the room." Harry was grateful that Dobby was being quiet. Lord knows what would happen if one of the Dursleys found a house-elf in the same room with Denekar. He sat down on the bed next to his house-elf friend and sighed.
"Is that what you do in the holidays? Look for muggle-born students?" Harry asked just thinking of the situation.
"Some of us. Some having to stay and keep castle clean, tricky with peeves around. We also check on ones we know. Some loose magic sometimes." Just then Harry heard a small pop and another House-elf appeared frantic.
"Peddy in biggest big trouble, Dobby. Peddy was seen! By muggle boy I didn't see him coming and he saw me! What is Peddy going to do?" Peddy was being rather noisy and Denekar woke up and started making uncomfortable noises. Harry was going to get up to calm her down but Peddy rushed over to her crib and gently picked her up. "I is sorry little miss. Peddy not seeing you there." Dobby gasped and Harry was trying to take in information. Denekar was perfectly content again and was in fact nearly asleep, and why had Dobby gasped?
"OK… hold up… one thing at a time. Dobby, what's wrong with her not seeing Denekar?" Dobby grinned up at Harry.
"Only one thing stop a house-elf from knowing when people are around. It mean Dobby soon to be father!" Dobby said proudly turning his smile to Peddy who smiled back. Harry looked at her holding Denekar and knew she was going to make a fine mother.
"Congratulations Dobby, you too Peddy. Okay, next thing. Who was it that saw you? How old was he?"
"He is nearly eight." Peddy said with a sigh. "Peddy think his name Ethan Tucker." Harry smiled
"It's a small world." Harry said. The two house-elves looked at him.
"I met him earlier today. I told him about magic because his magical outbursts were upsetting him. Don't worry about it Peddy."
"Peddy is very grateful to Harry Potter." Peddy said with a relieved smile.
"Anyway, how's Winky doing these days?" Harry asked, more to Dobby but it was Peddy who answered.
"Winky is still drinking lots. Peddy is thinking she is not liking being around lots of other house-elves." Harry shook his head.
"Maybe you guys should head back to Hogwarts. You should tell Dumbledore your happy news and maybe it's best if you stay there for a while Peddy. Let me know when your baby is born OK? Tell Dumbledore what you think is making Winky sad and say Hi to him for me." Harry said realising how late it was getting. Both of his visitors nodded and Peddy put the sleeping Denekar back in her cot before they both disappeared with two small pops. Harry shook his head again. His days seemed to be getting busier and busier he mused as he changed into his pyjamas and climbed into bed.