Harry, Sirius, and Remus flooed into Diagon alley the week before September first. Harry was not used to being required to wear shirts as they often caught on his scales, but Remus ha come up with a charm that would help with that. Harry was wearing black pants and a thin black t-shirt and a light weight, dark grey, hooded robe. The hood was pulled up over his head when he stepped gracefully out of the grate, so he didn't get more than a few glances.

Sirius and Remus smiled back at him, "come on Trucido. We need to get your robes, books, and apothecary thingies for potions."

Harry smiled at Sirius' speech pattern. The man really was like a child, "where shall we go first?" Harry whispered.

"How about books?" Remus suggested, "You were hoping to get a few more."

"That sounds excellent," he stepped between the two, and Sirius tried to swat Harry's head. The half-snake heard it coming, and ducked quickly to avoid it. Many people who saw were impressed, and began whispering. Harry scowled, "they stare so already, and they do not even know who I am. It can only get worse. I dislike feeling eyes on my back."

Harry had adopted Oasis's speech pattern over the years, and it amused Sirius to no end that an eleven year old was almost as articulate as some adults, "you could give them something to stare at if you took down your hood. Could you imagine?" he pressed the back of his hand to his forehead, "oh my! Look at that creature! No it couldn't be Harry Potter! He's a snake? Oh no the world is going to end!"

Harry rolled his eyes at Sirius's theatrics, and Remus swatted him over the head, "shut up you fool. Behave like an adult."

"But moony! We swore never to grow up," Sirius whined.

"That was before we had to take care of a kid," Remus replied.

Harry scowled, "I'm a snake. Not a kid."

"You're only half snake dumb-bump," Harry tried to smack Harry over the head again, but missed once more. He frowned, "one day I'll get you."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "if you wish to believe that, I will not disillusion you, but know that if you ever do, my revenge will be swift and traumatizing."

Sirius laughed, and put his arm around the younger boy's shoulders, "I have no doubt. Now let's go shopping!" he finished gleefully. Remus shared a look with Harry, but they started down the road anyway. Harry couldn't understand how he managed to attract attention no matter where he went. Even with his face shadowed by the hood, everyone still looked his way. He wanted nothing more than to change into a snake, and hide back in his well. He had only been away from the cottage twice before, and it made him nervous to be surrounded by so many people. After his first time out Remus and Sirius had decided to buy him clothing by taking his measurements, and shortly after his second time out he turned seven. Since then he confined himself to the woods.

What he didn't understand was that the way he walked was so different from others his age that people couldn't help but stare. Harry walked with almost unimaginable grace, and the power he held was nearly visible as it spun around him. You could literally feel him went he entered a room because of his aura. As always, when he entered the bookstore, all heads turned his way. Harry ignored it and made his way to the register, "I need books for Hogwarts first year. I also required political guides, and books on basic dark arts."

"Ain't you a little young to be studying them?" the man looked down his nose at Harry, who didn't flinch.

"One is never too young to begin learning about one's enemy," Harry replied simply. When the man didn't move Harry nearly resorted to pulling down his hood, "I want my books shop keeper. I suggest you bring them," Harry put an edge on his words that made them sound similar to parsyltongue. The shop keeper blanched slightly, and went off to retrieve the requested items.

Sirius and Remus snickered, "interesting Harry."

"It's a sad day when a man is scared of an eleven year old boy," Sirius nodded solemnly.

"I wanted my books," Harry shrugged, "it worked didn't it?"

Remus and Sirius conceded. Harry could get anything he wanted and more. Besides having the ability to appear positively frightening, he could also be playful, or cute enough to melt your heart. Both adults understood that it was stressful for him to be in a crowd, and didn't question why he was so stiff. It was ten minutes before the shop keeper was back with the books. He handed them over with a trembling hand, and the trio left the shop.

Harry once again managed to coerce the apothecary owner into giving him some more questionable items, and they were on their way once again. Parchment took only a few moments, and they set off for the robe shop.

Sirius bounded off to get ice cream and left Remus with Harry. The shop owner immediately shoved Harry onto a stool, and told him to take off his outer robes, saying that she would be back in a moment. Harry gave a hesitant glance to Remus, who shrugged apologetically upon seeing that there was another person in the room.

The boy was nearly as pale as Harry, and had identically perfect posture, though he lacked some of Harry's grace, "No need to be shy. I'll meet you at school anyway."

Harry lowered his hood, "it is not that I am shy, but that I am not human," Harry whispered as he turned slowly to face the blond. His scales shone in the lighting of the shop, and his fangs glistened where they peaked out of his mouth.

The blond's eyes widened, "what are you?"

The boy's father stepped into the shop in time to hear his son's last comment. Evidently he didn't notice Harry, "Draco, what have I told you about being blunt."

"Sir, his reaction is not entirely surprising considering that I'm the first of my kind to be born since Salazar Slytherin himself," Remus knew that Harry needed to learn to defend his heritage and did not interfere. Lucius was obviously surprised by the declaration, and knew not how to respond. Harry cocked his head to the side, and flicked out his tongue, which forked as it extended fully, before returning to normal inside his mouth. Remus had always found that trick slightly disturbing. Harry always got a better sense of the people he was with if he did it, so neither Remus nor Sirius tried to discourage it, "you are more snake than others. You may call me Trucido."

Harry didn't extend his hand, so Lucius didn't either, "Lucius Malfoy, and my son Draco," Harry nodded, "You are a Hogwarts first year?"

"I will be - should I be permitted to stay. I am not certain that they are willing to teach snakes," Harry said seriously. Remus knew he wasn't going to tell him that he was also Harry Potter. Knowing Harry, he probably wanted a good laugh over their faces. Sirius bounded in right then.

"Hey guys. I've got ice cream for me, and I bought you a rat," he handed Harry a small cage, as the younger blond snickered. Sirius raised an eyebrow, "well he needs lunch now doesn't he."

That shut the younger Malfoy up, but Lucius still looked horrified, "surely you don't expect him to eat a live rat Black?"

Harry scowled, "they aren't any good dead, and I'd be dead before I touched that revolting concoction – unless it had blood on it. Then it would be fine."

Lucius's eyes were wide, and remained that way as Harry took the rat out of the cage. He pierced it lightly with one fang to stop it's struggling, and then proceeded to swallow the entire thing whole. When he was done he looked to Sirius in question, and the older man handed him a small thermos of blood. Harry drank it down eagerly, and turned to the Malfoy's again, "That was undoubtedly one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen."

Remus snorted, "You should see him eat rabbits. It's a horror show."

"Oh and the mice! He eats the bloody things like mnms" Sirius added.

"And don't forget when he tried that pig! And it took him half an hour to get it in," Harry guessed correctly that Remus and Sirius weren't to happy with the Malfoys from the malicious glint in their eyes as they told more and more revolting stories about things Harry had eaten. Both Malfoys were revolted, and bolted from the store the second Draco's robes were done. The trio laughed a bit – it would be interesting to see the blonde's reaction when the snake boy who ate pigs was announced as Harry Potter – Savior of the wizarding world.

It would certainly make the beginning of the school year interesting.