Please Note: This fic's rating has been upgraded to M/R. ANs and Disclaimer are below.

""snaketalk"" Parseltongue

"Shut Up & Kiss Me"
by; imLittleLily

"Tom Riddle's Tombstone"

Harry ran north past Wisteria Walk on his way to the park where he planned to circle around and head back to Number 4. Breathing heavy, he passed another runner going in the opposite direction. Harry nodded at him and continued on to Magnolia Crescent, past the alley that brought cold memories and then toward the swings in the park. Deciding to take a breather, he paused, bending and putting his hands on his knees. Allowing his breath to slow to a steady rhythm, he closed his eyes and tried to focus on the day he had scheduled. Running was completely new to him as a form of exercise to strengthen him for the coming battles. He was also hoping that it would help him to sort through his thoughts and plans.

The next thing on his agenda today would be shopping. Remus was supposed to come and take him to the mall. Shopping was imperative at this point because his clothes needed replacing—badly. Harry had also decided to get contacts. He didn't want to have to worry about losing his glasses in battle. Sighing, he took off once more, heading toward the drinking fountain on the other side of the park. Dipping his head into the water fountain when he got there cooled him slightly. After drinking deeply, he turned and made his way back to Number 4.

Passing the alley where he had encountered the dementors, he starting feeling irritable. Not because of the memory. Harry was not fond of shopping and didn't look forward to it. As far as he was concerned, clothes were not that important—that is unless they were too short to wear—which was the case for Harry. Growing four inches in the space of a couple of months could do that. Harry had been surprised when Remus had insisted that he needed new clothing.

Coming around the corner onto Privet Drive, Harry encountered an old enemy, Piers Polkiss. Groaning silently, he slowed his pace because Polkiss was standing directly in his path. As he approached, he decided that he would sidestep him and keep on moving.

"Potter."

Harry nodded nonchalantly and moved to his left.

Polkiss moved in an effort to block Harry on his new path. Sneering as though he was going to attack physically, he said, "Scared, Potter?"

Harry stopped. Arching his brow, he shook his head. "No, Polkiss. Sod off." Stepping around him, Harry suddenly found himself pressed against a parked car with Polkiss against his back whispering in his ear.

"You're a freak, Potter. Why do you keep coming back?" Polkiss pushed and pressed against him in a manner Harry did not appreciate.

Growling, Harry sent his head back—hard.

Polkiss yelled when the back of a stubborn Gryffindor head hit his nose, smashing it painfully. Releasing Harry, he brought his hands up to find blood flowing through his fingers.

"Harry?"

Harry set his jaw and turned to Dudley. "What?" Harry didn't hold his anger from his voice.

Polkiss was still yelling. "Fucking freak! What the hell did ya do that for?" Pausing to gasp at the pain and blood, he stumbled back away from Harry further. Anger spiking, he included Dudley into the equation. "Bugger off, D.!"

Dudley ignored him. Turning to Harry, he asked, "Are you okay?"

Harry's brow rose.

Dudley's rose also, waiting for a response.

Harry snorted at his cousin, and then nodded. "You should probably take him home. I'll see you later." Harry turned from them and walked into Number 4 without a backward glance.

The doorbell rang, sending its annoying chime through the whole house. Upstairs, Harry was staring at his reflection in his mirror.

""It's about time you decided to do something about your awful clothes.""

Harry snorted. ""What do you know? I always had my reasons for wearing what I did. Even after I found out I had money, I didn't want Uncle Vernon to find out that there is gold in a vault at Diagon Alley. Besides, I hate trying on clothes in a store.""

Knock, knock.

Harry tucked Draco into his pocket quickly and opened the door. "Hi, Remus. I'm almost ready."

Remus nodded. "Tonks is down in the car waiting. Harry, what did you do to your hair?"

Harry shrugged.

""Told ya,"" Draco hissed out from Harry's pocket.

Harry tapped his pocket acting like he was trying to remember something.

""Don't…stop that! Wanker!""

Reaching for his wallet that he had filled with Muggle notes, Harry smiled. "What do you think?" He arched his brows while looking over his spectacles at Remus.

Remus studied Harry's hair, which boasted Gryffindor red and gold streaks within the black of his natural color. Shaking his head, Remus said, "You look like James before a Quidditch match. Why did you do it?"

Harry smirked. "It's just temporary. I thought I would shake things up a little. Come on, I want to know what Tonks thinks." Leading the way down the stairs, Harry merely grinned at Aunt Petunia's startled look at his hair. "I'll be back later, Aunt Petunia."

Nodding, she turned to the kitchen, mumbling something under her breath.

When they stepped outside, Harry instantly learned Tonk's opinion of his hair when a whistle cut through the summer air. Grinning, Harry returned it as he gazed admirably at the car Tonk's was sitting in. "Whoa, when did you get this?" Harry's eyes caressed the red convertible as he hissed through his teeth.

"Wotcher, Harry. Like the hair. Got the car last week, get in." She grinned wickedly. "Let's see if we can add some wind to your look."

Harry climbed into the back seat, moaning with decadent pleasure at the feel of leather around him.

""Hey,"" Draco hissed from Harry's pocket, ""there's only supposed to be one thing that makes you sound like that.""

Harry snickered.

"What Harry?" Tonks asked as she started to back out of the drive.

"Nothing," Harry replied as he leaned back enjoying the comfort.

Tonks smiled. WestSurrey Center is this way right?"

Harry nodded, and then put his head back, allowing the summer sun and breeze to caress him.

Philippe D. LeBatel, Optometrist. Harry read the sign painted on the glass that faced the small eye doctor's office where they had decided that Harry should get his eyes checked and purchase some contacts.

"It'll be fine, Harry." Remus was studying him closely.

Harry nodded. "It's just that I haven't had my eyes checked in a long time. The last time, I got a really bad headache afterwards."

Tonks smiled. "Harry, if you get a headache this time, I can fix it for you." She arched her brow and pulled her long braid around to her front.

Harry knew that she had her wand hidden within. Sighing, he nodded and pulled the door open.

"Hello." A young woman was behind the desk smiling at him. "Do you have an appointment?"

Harry shook his head. "Do I need one?"

"Just a sec, I think we had a cancellation." Looking in the book opened flat on the desk, she hummed under her breath. "There's an opening at eleven-thirty. Do you want me to set that time for you?"

Harry nodded. "That's okay."

Remus was looking at the samples of glasses around the office. "Harry, look at these, they are just like the ones James wore."

Harry walked over to see. Fingering the glasses that Remus handed him, Harry shook his head. They brought the memory of the Mirror of Erised to the forefront of Harry's mind. "Yeah," he whispered, "just like them. I need to get contacts though, Remus." Giving Remus a significant look, he placed the glasses back on the shelf before them, biting his lip thoughtfully.

"I know, Harry." Remus patted him on the shoulder.

They took seats and waited since it was close to eleven-thirty. Harry picked up a magazine and leafed through it.

Draco started squirming around in Harry's pocket. ""What's going on, Potter? Where are we?""

Biting the inside of his cheek, Harry stood and made his way back to the displays of glasses. ""I already told you,"" he whispered, ""I'm getting contacts. I have an appointment…don't know how long this will take. You need to be still.""

Draco hissed with annoyance. ""I don't like being closed in, Potter.""

Harry sighed. Reaching into his pocket, he stroked Draco. ""I could have left you at home. I didn't think you would like being there by yourself.""

Draco nuzzled against his fingers.

"Harry?"

Harry turned to see Tonks looking at him funny. Shrugging at her, he arched a brow.

"Mr. Potter," the young woman at the desk said, "Dr. LeBatel is ready for you."

As far as Harry was concerned, the eye test was arduous. He hated every minute of it. It didn't help matters that Draco kept muttering things like, ""Sod off—prat—nosy much?"" At one point, Harry had bumped his elbow down on his side when Draco's mouth got carried away with annoyance at the doctor's questions.

"What school do you go to?"

Harry answered with a noncommittal sound in his throat.

Grunting, Dr. LeBatel arched his brow. "Just wondered. Thought maybe your hair had something to do with it. I was a Coventry Comet myself—blue and gold."

Harry nodded noncommittally.

"Got a girlfriend?" The doctor was writing some notes as he asked this. Looking up at Harry expecting an answer, he smiled.

Harry gave a slight shrug, shaking his head silently.

"Okay, we're almost done," he said to Harry. "Read the second from the bottom line."

"F, D, P, L…."

"Excellent, seems we have found your prescription."

Harry sighed in relief.

Dr. LeBatel smiled. "You've never had contacts?"

"No sir."

""Would we be here listening to your gaff if he had?""

Harry bit the inside of his cheek as the doctor explained to him that he would not have any problems adjusting to the lenses.

""…ya da ya da ya da…""

Harry placed his hand over his pocket in an attempt to silence Draco—only because he was afraid he would start laughing any moment. "Thank you, sir." Standing, he followed the doctor to the small room where Lissa would help him with his contacts.

"Lunch time." Tonks grinned when Harry came out of the back room. "Humm," she said, as she looked closely at Harry without spectacles.

Harry blushed, ducking his head; he made his way to the desk to pay. Lissa was totaling his bill. Looking up, she asked, "Will that be cash or charge?"

Harry smiled. "Cash." He counted out the notes required and after picking up his receipt from the desk, he said, "Thank you."

Lissa smiled and winked. "Have a good day, Harry. You look great."

Blushing once more, Harry said, "Er, thanks, you, too. Have a good day, I mean."

""What are you doing?"" Draco's voice sounded very annoyed at Harry's very brief and innocent flirtation.

Tonks grinned and tsked playfully as she led them out into the main area of the mall.

Lunch turned out to be very fast because Tonks couldn't wait to get Harry into the shops to play dress up.

Harry groaned.

Draco sniggered in his hiding place.

Remus smirked as he ate his chips.

They were walking through the western end of the mall when Tonks got a very ornery grin on her face. Reaching out and pulling Harry forward, she laughed when he protested.

"No, Tonks…"

Remus laughed and shook his head. "Don't fight it Harry. Take my word for it; Tonks inherited the Black stubborn streak. She could out do Sirius in one of his worst expressions."

""What?"" Draco's voice was astounded.

Harry cleared his throat. "Tonks, I don't want—"

"Trust me, Harry. You'll love it." Tonks grinned as she pulled Harry to a rack loaded with different styles of leather trousers.

""Potter, what did Lupin mean, Black? Hey, I smell leather.""

Harry growled under his breath. It didn't do much good because Tonks had already found him a selection to try on and was pulling him back to the fitting rooms. Remus wasn't much help; he selected some tee shirts and moved through the jean section before joining Harry and Tonks at the fitting rooms. Harry was arguing with Tonks. "This is so impractical; I can't believe you want me to…"

"Harry," Remus said. "Just try them on. If you don't like them, you don't have to buy them."

Harry sighed and entered the fitting room grumbling under his breath.

""I wanna know why Lupin said that about Tonks.""

""Later,"" Harry hissed softly.

""Potter…""

Harry made a strange noise like, "Grugh!" Shaking his head roughly, he undid his front fly and dropped his baggy jeans to the floor.

""Ow, damnit, Potter! Don't drop me!""

Harry snickered softly, whispering, ""Shut up then.""

"Harry, are you alright?"

"Yes, Tonks, I'm fine although I can't believe these trou…" Harry's voice trailed off as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

""Fuck, you could go freeballin in those…"" Draco's voice was tinged with awe.

Harry coughed, trying to hold back a laugh. Damn, Draco was right. The fit was perfect for him. The back rested across his ass just right. Everything in front was comfortable while still looking awesome. Harry sighed. He could get used to this.

"Harry," Remus' voice seemed to be laced with amusement as silence continued on Harry's side of the door.

"Yeah, Remus?"

"Harry, come out so we can see."

Harry groaned.

Draco snickered as he slid back into his hiding place in Harry's jean pocket, which was still on the floor.

"Harry," Tonks coaxed, "come out so we can see how delectable you are."

Muttering under his breath, Harry slowly opened the door and stepped out.

Tonks' whistle drew the attention of several patrons and employees.

Harry blushed and growled as Tonks reached out and turned him. "Oh yeah, that'll work."

"Work for what?"

Remus laughed and handed Harry several tee shirts. "Here Harry, try these on."

Harry hissed through his teeth when Tonks turned him back to the fitting room and patted his arse in play.

Draco was laughing from Harry's pocket. ""I like Tonks—except maybe I'll have to have a talk with her about handling my property. Everyone knows I don't share.""

Harry was an epitome of restraint. What he really wanted to do was transfigure Draco and Tonks into rocks and leave them on a high mountain somewhere. Growling again, he pulled a dark green tee over his head. Another perfect fit. Hurriedly pulling it back off, he tried a white one next. His breath hitched. Although it was a tee shirt, its fabric was extremely soft against his skin. Combined with the black leather trousers, he looked amazing.

""Fuck, Potter, you're beautiful.""

Harry looked down at Draco shyly shaking his head. ""Tell me that at a better time, okay?""

"Harry…" Tonks sounded impatient.

"Not right now." Harry sat down on the small bench that was on the side of the fitting room. Taking Draco into his hands he whispered, ""This is so hard, Draco."" He didn't feel like using Muffiato so he spoke softly so no one on the other side of the door would hear.

Draco blinked at him. ""Yeah, it is, but you are a bloody Gryffindor and for some damn reason I think you can handle it.""

Harry shook his head. ""You're wrong."" Standing up, he said loud enough, "Remus, didn't you find some jeans? I'd like some black ones with large pockets. I'll be out in a sec."

Remus said, "Okay, Harry. I'll get you some."

The rest of the afternoon shopping went smoothly, although Harry was hiding deep melancholy about his situation with Draco. Having him around as a snake was fun—sometimes. However, there would have been better reasons to have just Draco.

They celebrated Harry's new wardrobe at a pub. Tonks had wanted to take them there ever since it had first opened a month ago. She seemed to find it amusing when she pulled into the parking lot of Harry's Bar & Grill. Remus rolled his eyes as Harry muttered, "Damn," from the back seat.

Tonks had just pulled into the drive at Number 4 when an owl came down and landed on the back seat next to Harry.

"Harry, don't."

"It's okay, Remus. It's the twin's owl."

Remus arched his brow at Harry and returned his gaze back to the owl.

Harry reached forward taking the message from the owl's leg. "Thanks, Nike."

The owl ruffled her feathers and took flight.

Harry studied the folded parchment in his hand. It was folded over repeatedly and held closed with a Muggle paperclip. Harry's brow rose at that as he flipped the note over. On the backside, there was a short a note written in green ink.

Harry,

These are plastered all over Diagon & Knockturn Alleys. Just thought you otta know.

Fred

Harry looked up at Remus with a vague shrug. Unfolding the parchment, he opened the final fold feeling tense. Gasping, he dropped the parchment in shock.

Remus reached around the seat for the parchment. "Harry, what is it?"

Tonks frowned at both of them.

Harry shook his head rapidly, emerald eyes round and very obvious without spectacles to hide behind.

Draco squirmed in his pocket. ""What is it, Potter?""

Remus picked the parchment up from where it had fallen to the floor, stared at it, and then whispered, "Merlin." Handing the parchment to Tonks, he asked, "Did you know about this?"

""Potter…""

Tonks took the parchment in her hands. Shaking her head and gasping, her eyes went to Harry. "Where is this?"

Harry swallowed. Holding her eyes for a moment then turning to Remus, he whispered, "It's a tombstone, Tom Riddle's tombstone to be exact. I guess Voldemort wanted to make a point." Harry's hand moved up his leg nervously, pausing over the trembling snake in his pocket. Draco became extremely quiet and still all of a sudden. Pulling his eyes away from Remus with a shake of his head, Harry said, "I think I want to go in now. Got a lot to do."

Remus nodded. Getting out of the car, he helped Harry carry his packages up to his room.

Harry closed the front door after Remus left, grateful that Aunt Petunia and Dudley weren't home. ""Fuck, fuckity, fuck! Draco!""

No answer.

""Damn it, Draco—talk to me. This is no time to go silent."" Harry ran up the stairs returning to his room. Reaching into his pocket and then sitting on the bed when Draco was in his hand. Harry scowled down at him.

Draco slithered onto the bed and curled up.

Harry was sure he could see him shaking. ""What happened?""

""You saw what happened.""

""No Draco, I saw the results."" Harry leaned closer, stroking Draco. ""What…?""

""I was there.""

Harry hissed angrily.

""The Dark Lord was angry that Sev was the one who killed Dumbledore instead of me."" Draco was shaking. ""I—I don't know why I'm still alive.""

Harry picked him up and held him close.

""Sev stood up to him, fought bravely—almost Gryffindor-ish. I—I didn't really know he was a double agent spy.""

Harry shook his head; he had never heard Draco stumble over words before.

""It was horrible. The Dark Lord said he would make an example of Sev. We were all in a circle. Aunt Bella was there, she was the one who started the cutting curse… Sh—she cackled like a loon."" Draco slithered to the edge of the bed dropping to the floor. ""I don't want to talk anymore."" The tip of his tail disappeared under the bed, hiding in the darkness beneath.

Harry sighed and laid back. In all of the years he had known Severus Snape, he had never admitted that the man had done any good when he spied for Dumbledore. After killing Harry's mentor, Harry had actually thought that Snape must die—but not like that. Closing his eyes, he tried to fight with his mind, attempting to erase the gruesome image of Professor Snape tied to the very same tombstone he had once been tied to. Cut to ribbons—nearly unrecognizable. Harry shuttered thinking, What now?

A special Thank You to my reviewers:

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Blanket Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Co. and all other characters within Potter World do not belong to me. No infringement is intended. I am making no money here; just having fun. Kudos and blessings to the literary genius JKR.