Author notes:
I just found out I was apparently blocking any anonymous reviews, oops. -looks sheepish-
Anyway, it´s no longer blocked! So to all those people that were just dying to review but couldn´t: you can now review!
Many, many thanks to those that did review, especially Sazza who alaways gives me such wonderful long reviews. And no I´m not planning on giving up on this story anytime soon, I´ve still far more ideas swimming in my head who need a way out, although it is a bit frustrating to continue with so few reviews, really yours are what make it so much easier to keep going, so thanks.
This chapter wasn´t suposed to be a chapter at first, just a little scene really, but than it just got so long... I ¨probably have drawn it out to much to keep it interesting, but, oh well, enjoy anyway.
12. The house guardian
>Wake up, man-boy,> the low voice hissing in his ear slowly woke Harry up.
He had the pleasant feeling as if someone was stroking him over his entire body, slowly and sensually. He sighed as the feeling intensified, making him feel as if someone was holding him.
>I sssaid, wake up!>
There was the hissing again, the hold on Harry tightened and he unwillingly opened his eyes. He didn't want to wake up from this dream just yet, but his back hurt from lying on the hard ground.
Wait, why was he lying on the ground?
Groggily he tried to sit up, but something was holding him back.
>Finally,> Black hissed exasperated, >I thought you would never wake up.>
The snake had coiled its entire body around Harry in his attempt to wake him but was now slowly releasing him.
Harry was lying in his and Ginny's hiding room and he remembered vividly what had happened, even though he wished he didn't.
A vision.
The worst vision he'd ever had.
And this time he could remember every single last image he'd seen. He remembered the Christmas carols singing in the background and the big Christmas tree; filled with fake candles, fake snow and happy smiling little angels. It had been snowing outside, but inside there was a roaring warm fire. And yet he had been so cold, so, so cold he could feel it even now. Most of all he remembered the voice, the voice he had once foolishly called lovingly, but was really anything but.
And he was starting to realize it was not a vision, it was a memory.
A memory of something he had long since forgotten, but for some reason was now returning to him.
There were still a lot of black holes, like when it happened and of course what exactly happened, as he still had no idea, just a vague feeling it was something very, very bad.
>Are you feeling better?> Black asked, hovering over Harry uncertainly.
>I'm fine,> Harry mumbled, standing up slowly.
He wasn't fine, no matter what Hermione said about the benefits of meditation it had only brought Harry trouble. Since their so called animagus training his nightmares that had left him alone ever since he'd arrived at Grimmauld place had suddenly returned, even worse than before. And now this stupid vision, memory thing.
>I've observed humans for many yearsss, yet I've never seen sssomeone just collapse like that,> you must be ill, Black insisted.
>I guessss I am,> Harry shrugged, >don't know what it is though and I can't do anything about it either.>
Walking over to the couch he picked up his chess-set lying there, which was the reason he was there in the first place; Ron had challenged him to a game of chess and although Harry didn't particular like getting slaughtered by his best mate, there wasn't really anything better to do. So he had went to get it from the room where he'd last played with Ginny, when he suddenly collapsed.
>I'll better get back before Ron ssstarts looking for me,> he murmured, more to himself than to Black. But when he turned around to leave the big snake was blocking the door, looking threatening.
>I don't like being ignored, human,> he hissed, narrowing his eyes dangerously, >you said we would talk later, it isss now many daysss later, yet you want to leave already? I don't think ssso.>
Harry blinked, a bit taken aback by Black's sudden forcefulness, he wasn't afraid though, for some reason he trusted the snake not to harm him.
>I'm sssorry, I didn't mean to ignore you really, I was just kinda busy with other ssstuff. I didn't know you were that desperate to talk to me...>
>I'm not desperate,> Black snapped indignantly, >however, I haven't had a decent conversation with anyone sssince Darius, and he died nearly a century ago, so, I sssuppose you can say I'm a bit…, hrm,> Black lowered it's tone, >lonely.> The snake's glittering black scales seemed to darker to an even blacker black, and although Harry couldn't say for sure, it seemed like Black was blushing.
"Harry? What the hell is taking you so long"
Harry started at Ron's sudden voice coming from the hallway.
"Harry? You around here somewhere?" Ron called, and than softer to himself, "where is that bloody room of his"
Black snarled something unintelligible and for a brief moment Harry thought he saw his eyes glowing with an eerie purple colour.
"Harry?" Ron was starting to sound a bit concerned and Harry sighed, he didn't even know why he was reluctant to let Ron know about Black, he should just tell him he was there.
"Harry! Whe-AAAAA"
Harry jumped and automatically reached for his wand at Ron's scream and it's abrupt cut off. "Ron?" He shouted trying to push Black out of the way and open the door.
But Black wouldn't budge.
>No need for panic, he isss quite unharmed.>
Harry gripped his wand tighter and levelled it at Black, even while knowing the snake probably couldn't even be affected by a spell.
>What the hell did you do to him!>
>I'm sssimply giving him a bit of a tour trough the house, a detour if you will. I didn't want him to interrupt usss.>
>A detour? How,- What are you anyway?>
>I was once a sssimple house guardian, until Darius Black gave me a form and intelligence ssso I could keep him company.>
Like Harry knew what a house guardian was.
At Harry's frustrated look Black clicked his tongue disapprovingly, >don't they teach children anything these daysss? A house guardian is a persssonality of a house, many pureblood's homes have a guardian, although none quite as ssspecial as me of course. Like I said, Darius lived on hisss own so he created me and gave the form of a sssnake as he was most proud of his ability to ssspeak sssnake-language.>
Harry narrowed his eyes, >so you're the one that made my life miserable before by making the furniture move?>
>Yesss!> Black said, happy he had caught on, >and I've just opened a hole under your loyal sssidekick's feet where he fell through, ssso he is now crawling through a narrow tunnel. He isss not too happy about that, but, like I said, he isss unharmed, so you can ssstop pointing that pathetic little ssstick at me.>
Reluctantly Harry lowered his wand, >there wasss no need for that, he grumbled, Ron wouldn't have told anyone about you.> He paused after his own statement, slightly surprised he'd said that, why would he think Black cared about people finding out about him?
>Maybe not, but I wanted to talk to you undisssturbed.>
>Well, now you've got me where you want, so talk.>
Black let out a long suffering sigh, >figures the first parselmouth to enter thisss house in years turnsss out to be a rude, obnoxious gryffindor.>
>If you don't like it I can always just leave,> Harry snapped feeling insulted, was it that obvious he was a gryffindor?
>And I can just ssstart with my little gamesss again,> Black threatened, >last time things stayed relatively harmlessss, I assure you I can do a lot worse.>
Harry grimaced, >why did you have to pick on me anyway?> He whined, >why not one of the order-membersss?>
>As sssoon as you stepped inside me I was drawn to you. I told you as much didn't I? I wanted to get your attention, see what you would do, how you would react. That isss why I showed myssself to you, consider yourself fortunate, I haven't shown myself to anyone besides Dariusss.>
>Ah, yesss,> Harry muttered sarcastically, >lucky me.>
>I have to admit though,> Black said, sounding far too pleased in Harry's opinion, >I did rather enjoy myssself, it was terribly amusing seeing your dumbstruck face as your bed took a midnight ssstroll.> He let out a odd hiss which was probably the snake version of laughter.
Harry glared at him and, deciding he might as well make himself comfortable until Black got bored of him, flopped down on the couch.
>Why did you feel drawn to me in the first place? It can't be because of the parssselmouth thing, last year you never bothered me.>
>Mm, true,> Black agreed, inclining his head, >I wouldn't know why, to be honest, and I don't really care either. You mussst realize this can work in both our favoursss, you can keep me company and in turn I can provide you with information from that sssilly bird-order.>
>How would you know any information?> Harry asked suspiciously.
The look Black shot him scarily reminded Harry of Snape's infamous you-are-a-blithering-idiot-not-even-worth-a-detention glare.
>They are holding these meetings inside me, human. This houssse is my body, the rooms, the furniture, even the paintingsss are all part of me. I can feel you sitting on me right now, I feel everything happening inside me. There is a nest of rat zingers with sssix babies behind that wall, young Mr Weasley is ssstill crawling through my hastily fabricated tunnel and is at the moment loudly cursssing the higher beings and your two female friends are having another discussion about you, I could tell you what they are sssaying but I don't think you want to know. Trust me, human, there isn't a sssingle thing going on in this house without me knowing.>
>They're having a discussion about me?> Harry repeated in dismay.
>Yesss, did you happen to hear anything else I sssaid, or is that all your feeble mind can remember?>
Harry gave him an indignant glare and hmphed, >I guess it's alright, I don't mind talking to you now and than, and if you really could get me sssome information… yeah.>
>Wonderful,> Black hissed, sounding truly pleased, >I will sssee you later than.>