Title: Harry Potter and the Queen of Serpents

Author: Sinayah

Distribution: Just Ask

Rating: PG for now but will move up to R in later chapters.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything except the plot and the original characters, creatures, etc.

Authors Note: As always, I want to thank my partner in crime Zenura Ravenscar. Without her support I would've never had the courage to write a single sentence. I'd also like to thank the dedicated fans who gave me so many wonderful reviews for my other fics. I hope you enjoy this as much as the others.

Chapter 3

Drakkara and Fawkes reappeared at the corner of Privet Drive and walked confidently up the street, knowing they were attracting the attention of the Dursleys' nosey neighbors with the combination of the womans strange apparel and the large, brightly plumed bird perched on her shoulder. Suddenly, at the fence between number two and number four, the raven-haired woman stopped.

The reason for her sudden halt was obvious. A teenage boy, short statured and too thin, wearing old clothing that could have comfortably held three of him, was walking into the front yard from the back, pushing a lawn mower in front of him. The young man had hair as dark as the woman watching him, and brilliant emerald eyes hidden behind unattractive black framed glasses. Drakkaras' eyes filled with tears as she drank in the sight of her godson. "Harry-love?"

Harry Potter heard the softly spoken call of his name and turned. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the dark haired woman from the penseive memory he'd first seen last night watching him with an expression of obvious joy and love on her face. He started to back away, shaking his head as if denying the vision of his godmother standing just a few feet in front of him.

"Harry?" he heard her call again. "Please Harry, don't back away. I just came from Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore sent me." He looked at the woman again, and this time saw the familiar form of Fawkes perched on her shoulder. The phoenix trilled a comforting note and took wing towards the teen. The bird landed heavily on his shoulder and awkwardly attempted to tug him by his overlarge shirt towards the violet-eyed woman.

He took a cautious step forward under the phoenixes urging, and then another. The tall woman also took a few slow steps in his direction, moving cautiously as if she were afraid that a false move would frighten him. When there was a short two steps between the boy and the woman, Fawkes flew back to his friend and trilled at her. Slowly, she reached into the folds of her cloak and withdrew a letter. She offered it to the messy haired teen saying, "Here Harry-love. Professor Dumbledore gave me this for you, to explain who I am and why I'm here. I know you've been through hell this last month, but I promise you that you can trust me. Read the headmasters letter and then we can talk."

The boy took the letter and opened it after noting the wax seal was indeed the Hogwarts crest. It was a short letter, but reassuring.

Dear Harry,

First, I hope this letter finds you well, and recovering from the trauma of your last week at school. Now, I'd like to introduce you to the woman who gave you this letter. Her name is Drakkara Vanimaer, and she is your godmother. She has come to explain some things to you, and to bring you to spend the rest of the summer with your friends.

Harry, I assure you that you can trust this woman with your life. She is a very dear friend of mine, and was your mothers' best friend from the moment they met until your mothers' death. I urge you to allow her to speak with you, and to take you from the Dursleys'. I hope to see you soon.

Albus Dumbledore

P.S. The location of the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is 12 Grimmauld Place, London, England.

P.P.S. Please give this letter back to your godmother so that she can read the first post script and explain it to you. AD

He finished reading the letter and looked up at the lovely woman, "Umm, Miss Vani…Vanimeer? Professor Dumbledore said to give this back to you so you could read the post script, and that you would explain some things to me." He stumbled over the unfamiliar name and gave the woman a curious look.

Drakkara smiled as she took back the letter and read the last two notes. "Ah, yes I can explain that. But please, you don't need to call me by my surname; it's rather hard to pronounce unless it's spoken to you. My name is Drakkara, or just Kara for short. You called me Ama when you were little, and when you feel comfortable enough you can use it again. Why don't we go inside out of the sun and away from prying eyes." She suggested.

Harry turned to lead the way, but stopped suddenly and tried to explain, "Err, my relatives don't exactly like our kind, you might not want to go in." he said while looking at his worn down tennis shoes, embarrassed by his relatives prejudice. The womans tinkling laughter made him whip his head up to look at her again.

"Oh don't worry about Petunia or that walrus she's married to. I know how to deal with them. Your aunt at least, has met me before and will know not to annoy me. Now, come on and lets get settled. Fawkes and I could use a drink, we've been rather busy this morning." Tentatively, Drakkara laid her arm across the boys' thin shoulders. When he didn't pull away from the affectionate gesture, she beamed a radiant smile down at him and walked across the yard to the front door.

Before Harry could turn the knob, the door was yanked open by a thin, horse-faced woman. Petunia Dursley had seen the reunion from the living room window and was distinctly not pleased. But as she opened her mouth to begin a tirade against all things abnormal, she was stopped by a quiet voice addressing her. "Nice to see you again Petunia, it's been a long time."

Her lips clamped shut again and she looked upwards into the face of her sisters best friend. Before she could recover enough from the shock, Drakkara had urged Harry inside and stepped through the door after him, leaving Petunia to shut it behind them. The shocked woman slammed the door and turned to her unwanted guest. "Wha…What are you doing here? The letter that came with the boy years ago said you'd died with his parents!"

"Mmm, yes I suppose it would have. I'll explain, but not standing awkwardly in the entrance hall. Harry-love, why don't you show me to the kitchen so that we can sit down with some tea while we talk." The raven-haired woman replied casually, and walked with the teenager into the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen, Drakkara sat herself at the table and drew her wand, lazily conjuring two cups of tea for herself and Petunia, a glass of pumpkin juice for Harry, a plate of chocolate biscuits to share, and a dish of water for the phoenix. She noticed Harry looking at her wand, which was rather long and slender, made from a golden wood with a dark handle. "Pretty isn't it? Would you like a closer look?" She asked, offering it to him.

The teen nodded, accepting the magical tool and examining it. "I've never seen a wand like this. It's longer than mine, and thinner. Wish it wasn't summer, I'd give it a wave just to see what it did." He handed it back to its owner, who chuckled at him.

Replacing the wand in its sheath she replied, "Sorry love, but that wouldn't be a good idea. That wand was custom made for me, and if you hadn't had my permission to touch it, it would've burned your hand when you took it. If you like, I'll tell you more about it later. For now, there are some things that need to be explained." She gestured for Harry to sit beside her and then raised her voice loudly to call for his aunt. "Petunia! If you want to hear this I suggest you get in here!"

The bony woman marched into her kitchen and sat herself at the table, eyeing the conjured beverages warily. She was followed by a teenage boy who might also have been a prize winning hog, wearing clothes and a wig and trained to walk on its hind legs. Looking between the two boys, knowing they were mere months apart in age, anger flared in her eyes and she scooted her chair closer to her godson to lay a protective arm across his shoulders. "My God Petunia. I knew when the decision was made to bring Harry here that your prejudice wouldn't allow you to treat him as if he were your own, but the drastic differences between them borders on child abuse! You're a miserable woman Petunia, and your jealousy of Lily had made you bitter. If I have my way, and believe me I will, you will never see Harry again, he deserves far better than you've shown him."

Emerald eyes widened in astonishment as Harry watched his godmother rail at his aunt on his behalf, not quite believing that this woman, who hadn't seen him for fourteen years would defend him so vehemently. When she'd finished her rant he turned his eyes on his aunt and watched her face redden in embarrassment. "Now see here you freak of a woman!" Petunia shouted, "I took him didn't I? We could've sent him to an orphanage. Since you're obviously not dead, why didn't you take him eh?"

Drakkara removed her arm from about the boys' shoulders and turned to face him fully. A pale hand reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from over his eyes. "It wasn't possible for me to take him, though I desperately wanted to." She started, speaking to Petunia but never taking her eyes off Harrys' face.

"Harry, I know you've heard by now the details of the night your parents died, but the story the world knows, and the truth are different. You see, I was there that night, and I can tell you what happened." Violet eyes clouded with grief as she relived for her godson the night of his parents' murder.

"I came over that night to bring you some sweets," she began in a hollow voice. "It was Halloween, but James and Lily couldn't take you out to trick or treat with the other children, so I brought over some sweets for you. Lily always said that between Siri and I you were going to be spoiled rotten." A vague smile graced her features as she paused to take a sip of her tea.

She took a shaky breath, determined to tell the story now without pause. "I apparated outside the wards and walked up to the house. The front door was open, so I just came in. I found James in the living room, and he was dead. Suddenly, I heard your mum screaming from somewhere upstairs and I ran to help her, but I was too late. When I ran through the doorway of your nursery, Lily was already dead and Voldemort had cast the Avada at you. There was nothing I could do, only watch in horror as that sickening green light hit you, and gape in shock when it reflected back at its caster."

Harry felt the tears run down his face as he listened, and when she paused for breath again he leaned forward and took her shaking hands in his. She squeezed his hands in thanks and continued. "I saw the magical connection between the two of you form. But this is where the story you've heard and the truth diverge Harry-love. The reflected Avada curse did not destroy Voldemorts body; instead it formed the connection. I didn't really understand what I was seeing; all I knew was that the horrible creature before me had just killed two of my best friends and tried to kill my godson. I sprinted across the room and gathered you in my arms. I was about to lose control of my magic and I knew it, so I held you close to protect you and used the last of my control to focus the magical outburst at Voldemort."

"That's what killed him isn't it? It wasn't me at all, it was you." The boy whispered, shocked by the revelation. His godmother, pale and shaking, nodded her head and continued speaking. "Yes Harry, it was my focused magical outburst that destroyed Voldemort and broke his power. I don't remember much of what happened after that. When my control snapped, I lost myself in grief and wanted nothing more than revenge. I vaguely remember checking to see that you were really alive and then putting you in your crib. After that it's a blur. I left you there and went hunting Death Eaters. When I became rational again it was hours later, and I knew somehow that I had just killed about twenty Death Eaters."

She raised her head then, and met Harrys' eyes. The teen could clearly see her guilt and sorrow for what she had done. "I think I understand how you must have felt. If anything happened to Ron and 'Mione I don't think I'd handle it well at all. Thank you for telling me what really happened Kara, and for avenging my parents." He stood up and leaned down to embrace the crying woman, and she wrapped her arms around him in return, pulling him into a desperate embrace over their shared grief.

Holding the child she loved so dearly in her arms after fourteen long years was like a dream come true for Drakkara, and it calmed her as much as the phoenix song that sounded from the back of her chair. She loosened her death grip on the boys' ribs and instead moved to draw the teenager down into her lap. "I know you're a bit old for lap sitting Harry-love, but please let me this once. There's more to tell you and it's been so long since I last held you."

Quite contrary to his godmothers' belief, Harry was enjoying being held in her lap. Though under any other circumstance he despised his lack of height and weight, right now they worked to his advantage as he answered her pleading tone by relaxing into her warmth and resting his head on her shoulder. "I think I can handle it Kara, just not in front of Sirius or Ron okay? They'd never let me live it down." He sighed contentedly against her neck.

Drakkara laughed and adjusted her arms more comfortably before continuing her story. "Thank you love." She whispered and turned her head to kiss his forehead. "My first thoughts when I came back to myself were of you. I didn't know where I was, so I apparated back to Godrics Hollow. The place was teaming with Aurors and I knew you probably weren't there any more, so I apparated again, this time to Hogwarts where I hoped I'd find you with Albus Dumbledore."

"I was right, and I did find you there. When I entered the headmasters' office you were crying and trying to pull Albus' beard out. I called out to you and ran over to the desk. I must've been a terrible sight after the things I'd just done because the headmaster was looking at me in horror. Not you though, my precious child, as soon as you saw me you held up your arms and demanded that I pick you up. I took you gladly and sat down, singing to you until you calmed and went to sleep."

Harry couldn't help but giggle as he pictured himself pulling on the headmasters' beard, and his godmother jiggled her legs to hush him so she could finish. "Once I had you sleeping and Albus could take the cotton balls out of his ears, I told him what had happened. He did that really annoying thing with his eyes that tells you he knows even more than you're telling him, and we made a plan. Albus knew I had almost no control over my magic at that point, I was leaking power like a sieve. He said the most important things for me at that point were to regain my control and hide me from the remaining Death Eaters who would surely be looking for me."

"It wasn't safe for you to remain with me until I had full control over my magic again. No one had heard from Sirius at that point except for the short meeting he had with Hagrid at your house. We thought Siri had hidden himself away to grieve for a while, or gone to Remus' and my flat to tell us what had happened." She paused when Harry looked up, curious that she and his former professor had been living together. "Remus and I were engaged Harry. Anyway, we had no idea where Siri was and we couldn't bring you to Remy because he was recovering from his transformation earlier that week. Albus decided that you would stay with Petunia and Vernon at least until things settled down and Siri was ready to take custody of you."

Drakkara sighed softly and took another sip of tea before telling the last part of her tale. "If only we had known what was going to happen just hours later. I made Albus promise to tell Remus the truth about why I'd left, but in general, the wizarding world should believe I was another casualty of the Halloween Slaughter. We thought it might lower the number of Death Eaters looking for me. I didn't tell him where I was planning on going, just that if I was needed Fawkes would be able to find me. I got to hold you and kiss you good-bye one last time, then Albus took you back and I disappeared from the wizarding world." She raised her eyes to meet those of Petunia Dursley and finished softly, "Now you see why I couldn't take him."

Harry lifted his head from his godmothers shoulder and looked her in the eye as he asked, desperately hoping, "Are you back to stay now?"

Placing one hand on the boys' cheek, Drakkara answered, "Rampaging wild hippogriffs couldn't force me to leave you again Harry-love. Fawkes was here last night you know, and your birthday wish made up his mind about coming to get me. I'm here now, I won't leave again, and I always loved you as if you were my child. I can't replace your mum Harry, and I wouldn't if I could. Lily was the most special person in the world, and you're lucky to have had her as a mother. But if you want me to be your Ama again, I'm more than willing to take the job."

His bright smile was answer enough, though he added to it by saying, "Is spoiling me rotten still in the job description? I really, really like sweets."

She laughed loud and long in sheer joy at her godsons cheeky reply. "No sweets today love, though I did bring you a birthday present. You'll have to promise to take good care of it though. It's very rare and priceless."

"You didn't have to bring me anything! I was only joking Ama." He exclaimed, not wanting her to think he only wanted her to spoil him with gifts.

Drakkara chuckled and shushed the boy, "Hush. When Fawkes told me that you were a Parselmouth I knew immediately what I should give you for your birthday." Harry watched as she raised her right arm and hissed. "Siranev, I'd like you to meet Harry. Harry, this is Siranev. If she agrees, she will be your familiar and guardian, as her parents are mine."

Harry saw now that what he'd taken to be a bracelet around her wrist was actually a young black, purple and green snake. When the small serpent raised her head to examine him, he caught sight of her silver belly. "I'm happy to meet you Siranev. You are honestly the most beautiful snake I've ever seen! Can I hold you?" He hissed to the snake.

"I like this little human Kara. He smells good and can speak to me as you do. I will accept him." Siranev spoke back, uncoiling herself from the womans wrist and gliding down to the hand of the teenager she had chosen as her own. "I choose you, Harry. I will be your companion from this day onwards."

The boy stroked the serpents' head and smiled brightly, "Thank you Siranev, I will try to be a good companion and friend to you." He replied before looking at his godmother again and speaking in English. "Thank you so much Ama! I love her already. I can't believe you're a Parselmouth too, I thought the I was the only one besides Voldemort."

She smiled at the boy, happy that the young serpent had chosen her godson as a companion. "It's a very rare gift Harry-love, but there have been a few Parselmouths in recent history. Most of us just choose to keep our ability quiet, since it's long been thought of as a Dark gift. But for myself, I'm what one would call a beast speaker. I can talk to most magical creatures, including Fawkes and my own guardian serpents Narasi and Vrisan."

"Cool, where are your snakes anyway? I hope you didn't leave them at Hogwarts. If Hagrid or Professor Snape saw them you'd never get them back!" Harry laughed, though he was only half joking. His half giant friend and his potions professor would both love to get their hands on a magical serpent, though the snakes would have a slightly better chance of survival with Hagrid.

Drakkara laughed with him and gestured him off her lap. She stood and removed her cloak so that the teen could see her companions where they rested on her upper arms. "This is Vrisan on my right arm, and Narasi is on the left. Siranev is their daughter and will be about the same size when she's fully grown." The woman explained. Hearing their names, the serpents raised their heads and hissed a greeting to the boy before going back to sleep. "Hang on," Drakkara said suddenly, "Did you say Professor Snape? Please love, tell me you mean anyone but Severus?"

Harry shook his head sadly, "Sorry Kara, but that's my potion masters' name. I guess you like him about as much as Sirius and Professor Lupin huh?"

"That, my little one, is putting it mildly. Maybe I'll tell you about it someday…in ten years or so. For now, I think we've dallied here long enough for Albus to explain things to Remy and Siri. Let's go to your room and get your things packed so we can leave." She gathered her cloak and suitcase/trunk and lifted Fawkes back to her shoulder. As she and Harry left the kitchen she turned and said, "Petunia, P…err child, it was disappointing seeing you again. Harry and I will show ourselves out. Good-bye."

She turned away from the door and gestured for Harry to hurry to his room, one hand clapped over her mouth. As soon as she got his bedroom door shut, the laughter burst forth. "Oh my goodness Harry! Next time I start saying something I shouldn't you have my permission to kick me! I damn near called your cousin Pig in a wig!" Harry joined her in laughter once she explained what was so funny.

When the giggles subsided, Drakkara sat on the bed and watched Harry open his trunk. "Lets cheat a little shall we?" she said, drawing her wand and repeating the spell that had swiftly packed her own belongings. Harry watched happily as all of his possessions except Hedwig in her cage and his Firebolt, which wouldn't fit, were stowed, neatly in his school trunk.

With everything packed, Drakkara shrunk the trunk down and Harry placed it in his pocket. He took up his broomstick and Hedwigs cage and they walked back down the stairs and out the front door. A couple minutes later they passed the wards and Drakkara wrapped her arm tightly around Harrys' shoulders. "Hang on tight to your things love. Here we go." His godmother cautioned a moment before disapparating.

* * * * * * * * * * *

While Drakkara was reuniting with her godson, Albus Dumbledore had been trying to explain himself to two very angry men who had the ability to turn into canines large enough to tear him limb from limb without much effort. To say that Remus Lupin and Sirius Black were not happy with him was a severe understatement.

Two hours after he began, just before Drakkara arrived with Harry, Remus asked him for what had to be the tenth time, "So let me get this straight. My mate came to you after finding James and Lily dead, watching as Voldemort attempted to kill Harry, losing control of her magic, destroying Voldemorts body, and murdering twenty death eaters. You, in your infinite wisdom, told her to leave. To go into hiding without saying a word to any of us, which she did after making you promise to tell me the truth. You then proceeded to outright lie to me and tell me the death eaters had killed her." The werewolf was literally growling the words, and the man sitting next to him emphasized the menacing sound.

Sirius picked up the story next, "And now, after fourteen years, it was Fawkes who set out to tell her how badly things had gone since she left, and it was Fawkes who brought her back this morning. If this experience, the hell we've gone through all this time, is your idea of wisdom, then I think I'll put in a vote tonight to have Fawkes replace you as head of the Order."

Albus sighed, knowing it would take quite a while to earn the forgiveness of these two men. "Yes, that is, in short, the truth of what happened to Drakkara. I left her at Hogwarts just before I came here, and she should arrive at any moment now with Harry." Before he could continue and make his apologies yet again, all three men heard a soft rapping at the door.