Disclaimer:  Once again I do not own Harry Potter.

Quick response to reviews:

ranoshiai:  To answer your question, I don't really hate Hermione that much but Ron upsets me.  He can get so annoying.

ningchan:  I can't wait for them to get older either lol

Shadowface:  Thank you for the idea of Harry keeping the stone.  I don't know what's going to happen with it now but it was a good idea.

The reason I update so quickly I suppose is that I'm really having fun with this.  I still love my other stories very much and will work on them but this is fun to work on, besides, I always thought Harry should be in Slytherin.  Any questions you have I'll answer, just leave them in a review.  Please tell me what you think. == The more reviews I get the faster I'll write, unless I get writer's block.  Thanks for those of you who have reviewed, I appreciate it.

Chapter 6

            The summer passed rather uneventfully.  Harry had expressed an interest in the Dark Arts and Lucius had taken it upon himself to teach him.  Harry got along well with the Malfoys.  One of their house elves though, Dobby, had told Harry not to go back to Hogwarts, that got the elf in trouble because Harry told Lucius.  After that Dobby didn't say anything.  Over the summer Harry had received a picture album from someone, it was unmarked but inside were pictures, each neatly labeled.  He had been confused when seeing the pictures of his parents.  They didn't look like the people he had seen in the mirror.  Harry had asked Lucius about it and he had replied that the ones in the picture weren't his parents, he had then shown him a picture of the two who were, they matched the ones he had seen in the mirror.  Harry was confused as to why someone would send him pictures that were mislabeled but he didn't bother to ask.  Finally they got their letters and headed to Diagon Alley to get their supplies.  Instead of going to Diagon Alley right off the bat though they went to a place filled with Dark Arts called Knockturn Alley.  Harry was very interested in the items there but Lucius had only come to sell some items before they went to Diagon Alley.

            "All of Lockhart's books?  How wrong is that?" Draco growled, looking at his book list.

            "I know, how is that supposed to teach us a damn thing?" Harry replied, he was wearing the robe Draco had given him for Christmas, it was his favorite.

            "Language Harry, mind it." Lucius said absently as they walked into Flourish and Blotts.

            "Well, if it isn't the Weasleys.  How many of you are there now?" Draco drawled as he saw the youngest one.

            Harry half smiled, "Think they'll go hungry to pay for all those books?  I wonder how long they'll starve."

            Ron growled and went to move forward but Hermione grabbed him, "Come on Ron, not here." She said, shooting a venomous glare at Harry and Draco.

            "Well, well, well – Arthur Weasley." Lucius said, coming up behind the two boys and putting a hand on Draco and Harry's shoulder.

            Mrs. Weasley's eyes grew wide when she saw Harry and realized who he was, they narrowed again when she saw who he was with, "Lucius." Mr. Weasley said with narrowed eyes.

            "Busy time at the Ministry, I hear.  All those raids…I hope they're paying you overtime?" He asked, reaching into the cauldron that Ginny, the youngest Weasley, had put her books into.  The book he pulled out was old and used, "Obviously not.  Dear me, what's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well for it?"

            Mr. Weasley looked appalled by his words, Draco and Harry snickered at the look on his face, "We have a different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy." He said seethingly.

            "Clearly." Lucius said, looking at the group from pale grey eyes, finally settling on Hermione's parents, "The company you keep, Weasley…and I thought your family could sink no lower." At that Mr. Weasley launched himself at Lucius, slamming him into a bookcase.  One of the books hit him in the eye during the course of their fight and Mr. Weasley's lip was split.  Hagrid was the one to pull them apart, Lucius still had the book he had taken from Ginny's cauldron in his hand, "Here, girl – take your book – it's the best your father can give you." He growled, thrusting it at her and pulling himself out of Hagrid's grip.  Without a word he motioned to Draco and Harry who followed him out of the shop. (62-63)

            Lucius cast a simple spell to get rid of his black eye.  He looked at Harry and Draco, "Let's get each of you a pet of your choice." He said before walking over to one of the stores.

            The three of them walked in and Lucius waited for the two of them to choose.  For some reason Harry found himself drawn to the tanks of snakes.  One of the snakes looked up at him, Looking for something? It hissed but Harry understood.

            I was thinking about getting a snake. He replied, I feel drawn to you. He admitted.

            Choose one.  None of us will hurt you, I promise that.

            Harry smiled and didn't notice Draco looking at him, blinking in surprise, Thanks.

            "Harry, did you know you're a Parseltongue?" Draco asked softly.

            Harry blinked, "A what?"

            "Parseltongue, you can talk to snakes."

            He shrugged, "I didn't know it was called that but I've always been able to."

            Draco smiled, "It's considered dark to be able to."

            "Really?  Cool." He said with a grin, "Maybe I'll keep it to myself, reveal it later only to scare people."

            Draco laughed, "So, are you going to get a snake?"

            He nodded, "Yeah, I just have to pick one."

            Harry looked over the snakes and finally saw one he liked.  It was pure black with green eyes.  Harry smiled, Black one.  Would you like to come with me? Harry asked.

            It looked up at him and seemed to smiled, Yes young snake speaker.  I'll go with you.

            What do they call you? He asked, taking the snake out of the tank.

            It wrapped itself around his arm, Veneficus.

            Harry smiled.  Draco had picked out a raven who was now sitting on his shoulder.  Lucius smiled at their choices and paid for the bird and snake, "Let's get your books since I'm sure those disgraces are gone."

            When they returned the Flourish and Blotts Harry was immediately grabbed by one Gilderoy Lockhart.  Harry yipped in surprise and pulled his arm away from him, "What do you think you're doing?" He hissed angrily, Veneficus didn't look to happy either.

            "Harry Potter." He said warmly.

            Harry was about to speak when Lucius cut in, "Excuse us Mr. Lockhart." He said in contempt, "But obviously he doesn't want to have anything to do with you.  Let's get your books Harry then we'll be away from this fop."

            Harry happily went with Lucius even though the Daily Prophet had managed to get pictures, much to his disgust, "Thank you Lucius." Harry said quickly.

            He half smiled, "My pleasure, go get your books you two." Draco and Harry went to collect their books, Harry trying to avoid Lockhart who seemed stuck on him.  When they returned to Lucius he smiled, "Ready you two?" He asked, as they paid, his eyes narrowed at Lockhart.

            Harry stroked Veneficus' head absently as they left, "What now?"

            "Home.  We have what we need."

In case you're wondering about the name of Harry's snake.  Veneficus is Latin for poisonous, magical.  If you have any ideas for what Draco's raven should be named I'm open for suggestion.