Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling.

"Oh, Severus, I can't believe all that has happened," Narcissa said, her eyes wide after he told her about the Quidditch game and the troll incident. She had flooed through in the evening to visit and update him on the wedding plans and had been shocked to hear of what had transpired that evening.

"Foolish Gryffindors," Severus muttered.

"Oh Severus, they just wanted to help their friend. They couldn't have known what would happen," Narcissa said gently. She tapped her fingers on his desk in thought. "I would like to know how a troll got in the castle."

"Someone's idea of a prank, no doubt," Severus said. "And when I find out who did it, they will pay."

"Poor Harry. I wish it wasn't so late so I could see him. I also miss my Draco."

"Perhaps tomorrow we could all share a meal together," Severus suggested. "The boys would love to see you."

"I miss them," Narcissa said. "I miss you too." She smiled. "I have enjoyed getting letters from Draco and Harry. I wish I could have seen the Quidditch match although I would have gone mad watching Harry almost fall."

"Except for the jinx on the broom, it was a excellent match," Severus said. "Harry is very good. Just like his father."

Narcissa raised an eyebrow. "Does it bother you, that Harry inherited James flying skills?" She asked carefully.

"No, of course not," Severus said. "I don't share the love of flying but I can appreciate the skill."

"I remember James was quite good," Narcissa remarked. "He bragged about himself enough." She laughed.

"Yes, he certainly was his own biggest fan," Severus said. "Him and Black, strutting around this school, thinking they were so great."

"I remember. You certainly hated them," Narcissa said.

"Can you blame me? After what they did to me? Of course I hated them. Especially Potter."

"To go from that to adopting his son, who knew?" Narcissa smiled.

"It wasn't something I wanted to do," Severus admitted, turning to summon some tea for them.

HP

Draco quickly ducked back before he was noticed. He'd been heading to bed when Marcus had mentioned that he had seen his mother heading for Snape's office. It was after curfew so he had snuck out, wanting to see his mother. Not wanting to risk his mum and Severus realizing he had been listening, he headed back to his dormitory, his mind swirling with thoughts of what he had just heard.

HP

Severus poured two cups of tea. "I didn't know anything about being a father. I didn't see how I should be adopting a child. What did I know of parenting?"

"And now?" Narcissa took a sip.

"I'm so grateful I did," Severus smiled. "What would I do without my sometimes reckless, impulsive, amazing boy?"

HP

"That's great that Professor Snape hated Harry's parents!" Theo exclaimed after Draco had returned and told Theo what he had overheard.

"Why?"

"It means he doesn't actually want Potter as his son," Theo said in satisfaction. "He was probably forced to adopt him."

Draco shook his head. "I've been around them for years. Severus loves Harry."

"But he never wanted him," Theo leaned forward. "How could he love Potter when he hated Potter's father? I've heard that they look a lot alike." He added.

"Yeah, my mum has said they do," Draco murmured. "Don't say anything to anyone though. I wasn't supposed to hear all that."

"No problem. You know, I bet Snape is just stuck with Potter," Theo said with a nod. "Sure, he probably cares about him but the truth is he never wanted him. So you see? He wants you but has to tolerate Potter."

Deep down, Draco knew it wasn't true. But it made him feel better to pretend it was.

HP

Harry hurried down the corridor. He had left Ron and Hermione in the library studying for a History of Magic quiz so he could visit Draco, Tracey and Blaise in the Slytherin common room. He wanted to make more of an effort to spend time with them. He stumbled as he tried not to knock into Professor Quirrell, who had suddenly appeared before him. Quirrell stared at him for a moment, looking around the empty corridor before giving a small smile. "Hello, Potter," He said. "No friends around you?That's perfect."

Harry stared at the professor in confusion. Professor Quirrell usually stammered but he was talking perfectly. And he was looking at him with hate in his eyes. Why? "Professor?"

"I'm not supposed to do anything to you, nothing that will actually kill you but I just can't help myself," Quirrell said, taking a step closer to Harry. "I had just become one of his followers when he died because of you."

"What? Who?"

"The dark lord!" Quirrell snapped. "That's right, poor st -stuttering Professor Quirrell is a death eater! I was finally feeling important and powerful and then it was gone in an instant. All because of you. The boy-who-lived. And somehow, you just keep surviving. The troll, the broom... "

"That was you?" Harry gasped, feeling fear.

"Well, I let the troll in. I didn't jinx the broom, that was someone else. Do you think I'm the only one who hates you? Who wants you dead?" Quirrell gave a cruel laugh. "You have no idea what is coming, Potter. In fact, you should thank me."

"Thank you?" Harry took a step back.

"I'm going to kill you. Trust me, you would rather that than facing them."

Harry almost asked who them was but instead turned and ran. He heard Quirrell yell the word Crucio and suddenly all Harry felt was pain. He screamed and fell on the ground, his body twitching in agony.

"That was the Cruciatus curse, one of the Unforgivables," Quirrell said pleasantly as he walked towards Harry. "We don't go over those in class until your fourth year. Too bad you'll miss the lesson but I'm about to show you another one. The killing curse. You've faced it before, but this time you won't survive."

HP

"What was that scream?" Draco asked in alarm as he and his friends turned the corner.

"I don't know," Tracey said uneasily. "Should we go check? It sounded like it came from that way."

"Let's go," Blaise said and the three hurried down the corridor and turned left, stopping as they saw their defence professor standing over Harry, who was whimpering in pain on the ground.

"Avada -" Quirrell began.

"No!" Draco yelled, getting his wand out of his sleeve. "Stupefy!"

"Help!" Tracey yelled as loud as she could when Quirrell froze and fell over, waking the nearby portraits that had been napping.

"We'll alert the Headmaster. Grab that man's wand!" One of the portraits ordered.

Blaise rushed forward to an unconscious Quirrell and picked up his wand as Draco dropped down next to Harry. "Harry? Are you okay?"

"Draco," Harry whispered, grabbing his friends arm as he struggled to stop shaking.

"It's okay, you're okay," Draco said, hoping help came soon. What was going on? "Harry, what happened?"

"Quirrell let the troll in," Harry said weakly. "He knows who jinxed my broom. He wants me dead. He's a death eater!"

"Oh Merlin," Tracey breathed, grabbing Harry's other hand for support.

Suddenly the Headmaster, Professor Flitwick and Severus came running down the corridor.

"What happened?" Dumbledore asked immediately.

"Professor Quirrell tried to kill Harry," Tracey said, tears in her eyes.

"What?" Professor Filius squeaked.

Severus grabbed his boy and held him close, trying to absorb the shakes. "Harry? What did he cast at you?" He knew, but it was hard to believe.

"He said Crucio," Harry buried his face in his dad's neck. "He said it was an unforgivable...Dad, it hurts!"

"I've got you," Severus said, lifting his son into his arms. "You're going to be just fine."

"Incarcerous," Dumbledore pointed his wand at Quirrell, who was starting to come to. Thick ropes suddenly bound his hands and feet. "Well, it seems we have a lot to discuss," he said when Quirrell opened his eyes.

"Let me go!" Quirrell struggled in the ropes.

"Filius, call the Aurors," Dumbledore said coolly.

As Severus carried Harry to the infirmary, he looked down at Draco who was following. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I just... I don't understand," Draco said shakily. "Quirrell seemed harmless."

"Yes, he did," Severus said, angry at himself for not seeing the danger.

"Now what has happened?" Poppy asked when they entered.

"He was hit with a Cruciatus," Severus said tersely.

"What?" Poppy eyes widened in horror and she quickly began running diagnostics and gathering potions. "Who would do such a thing? And to a child?"

"Quirrell."

"What?" Poppy gasped.

Once the shakes stopped, Harry breathed a sigh of relief. The pain was gone and he felt a lot better.

"Harry, how are you feeling?"

"Better. Dad, Quirrell -"

"The Headmaster is dealing with him. He will be going to Azkaban," Severus said soothingly. "He won't hurt you again. Can you tell me what happened?"

"I'd like to hear that as well," Dumbledore said as he entered the infirmary, with Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Where is Quirrell?"

"Another Auror is taking him to the Ministry for questioning," Kingsley said. "I was hoping to get Mr. Potter's account of what happened. If he feels up to it." He gave Harry a kind smile.

Harry told of how he had run into Quirrell on his way to visit Slytherin. "He said he had become a death eater before Voldemort was killed. He blamed me and said he wanted me dead." Harry leaned into his dad as he told the story. "He let the troll in and knows who jinxed my broom. He said something was coming and that he was doing me a favor by killing me now. He talked about others that were going to come after me."

"Who?" Severus demanded.

"I don't know, he just said, them," Harry said. "Then he started to say Avada something and that's when Draco, Tracey and Blaise came. Draco stunned him!" He smiled gratefully at the blonde. "You saved my life. Thank you."

"Yes, Draco thank you," Severus pulled Draco over with his other arm and hugged him. "I'm very proud of you. You too, Tracey and Blaise. Thank you."

Draco grinned. Severus was proud of him! And Harry was going to be okay and looked proud of him as well. Suddenly he felt like things were going to be okay. What had he been worried about? They could all be a family. There was no competition. He resolved to keep what he had overheard to himself.

HP

Draco couldn't help but enjoy the awed looks he was getting from his fellow Slytherins as he, Tracey and Blaise recounted the story of what happened with Quirrell.

"I can't believe it," Marcus said, stunned. "Quirrell always seemed so...well, weak. Are you sure Harry is okay?"

"He's fine now," Draco said. "Professor Snape is still with him in the infirmary."

"He's so lucky you guys showed up," Daphne Greengrass said admiringly.

"Wait, does this mean we don't have defence class anymore? Do we still have to do the essay on vampires?" Crabbe asked, looking hopeful.

Tracey glared at him. "Sensitive much?"

"I can't believe Quirrell tried to kill Potter," Theo said with a frown, glancing at Blitz who also looked angry.

Draco eyed Theo suspiciously. He was surprised that Theo looked upset at the news, considering how much he didn't like Harry. "So you're happy Harry is okay?"

Theo glanced at Pansy and gave a shrug. "Of course. He's an honorary Slytherin, after all." He said lightly.

Draco narrowed his eyes but was quickly distracted by more students wanting to hear the story again.

HP

"I'm sorry," Severus said pleasantly. "Who did you say was filling the Defence position?" He glared at the Headmaster from across his desk.

"Remus Lupin."

"Why," Severus began slowly. "would you think it was a good idea for a werewolf to teach the children?"

"Remus is a responsible, capable wizard," Dumbledore said. "I believe he will be a wonderful teacher."

"And when he is afflicted?"

"He will be asleep in his quarters, thanks to your Wolfsbane Potion," Dumbledore beamed.

Severus scowled.

"Now really, is it really going to be a problem for Remus to be here?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"He was a part of a group that liked to terrorize me," Severus said. "Oh, and he almost killed me. Did you forget that?"

"No, of course I haven't," Dumbledore said softly. "But you also remember that he wasn't at fault for that? He was a victim of a prank too."

Severus huffed and looked away. Perhaps that was true but still...

"Does it really help anyone to hold grudges like these?" Dumbledore asked. "So much has changed since then. You have a good, respectable job, Harry, Narcissa and Draco. Remus has been alone, struggling to find work. Do you truly wish for me to find someone else?"

"I suppose not," Severus said grudgingly.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "He is very excited to meet Harry. He has wanted to for years."

"Oh really? Then where has he been?"

"He wasn't sure of his welcome," Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "He didn't want to cause any problems with you and Harry."

"I see."

"Give him a chance, Severus," Dumbledore urged. "In one night, he lost three friends he considered family. He just wants a chance."

HP

"Hey, I got a package!" Harry said as Hedwig dropped a parcel in front of him during breakfast. It had been several days since the Quirrell incident and he was feeling like things were finally going back to normal. Narcissa had visited him and Draco, coming the moment she heard what had happened. She had been furious about what had happened but had coddled Harry and went on about how proud she was of Draco. It had been nice, the four of them spending some time together.

Harry looked the package over and frowned as he looked it over. "There's no card." He told Ron and Hermione.

"Open it," Ron urged, leaning forward so he could see better.

Harry opened it and jumped back as a snake slithered out.

"Ah, a snake!" Lavender cried, jumping up along with other students at the table. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs gasped and several people at the Slytherin table began laughing.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's just a snake," She said, peering at it.

Harry looked at the snake closely. It looked harmless. "Poor thing," He said, slowly reaching out his hand to it. He had no clue that he had just spoken another language.

The snake lifted its head. "You are a speaker! Can you return me to the forest?"

Harry blinked. People could talk to snakes? "Sure, I can do that," He held out his arm and the snake slithered up it. He looked at his friends and was surprised at the shocked expressions on their faces. "What?"

"You're a Parselmouth," Ron said, his eyes wide.

"A what?"

"You speak Parseltongue," Neville said in shock. "I've never heard it before."

"Fascinating," Hermione said, her eyes gleaming. "I've read about them, but they are exceptionally rare."

"You-Know-Who was one," Neville said mildly. He looked at Harry sympathetically.

Harry just shrugged. What did it matter? So he could talk to snakes, big deal. He realized the hall seemed more quiet than usual and realized that the other houses were staring at him as well.

"Who sent you that, Harry?" Severus asked. He had immediately headed to the Gryffindor table when he heard the screams and had heard his son talking to the snake. Harry was a Parselmouth?

"I don't know, there was no note," Harry said quietly. "The snake said, um, that it wants to return to the forest."

"I'll take it for you," Hagrid said, coming up behind Severus.

Harry nodded and looked at the snake. "My friend Hagrid will take you home. Is that okay?"

"Yes."

"Harry, have you ever talked to snakes before?"

"No," Harry said as he carefully handed the snake over to Hagrid. He hesitated. "Is it bad or something?"

"No, just rare." Severus smoothed down Harry's hair. He glared at the Gryffindors who were still staring. "It is just a different language, that is all. A rare ability."

There was a sudden commotion as Marcus approached dragging both Crabbe and Goyle along with him.

"Let us go!"

"It was just a joke!"

"I overheard them congratulating each other for their snake prank," Marcus glared at the two first years.

"Is that right?" Severus narrowed his eyes.

"It was supposed to be funny," Crabbe said weakly.

"Yeah, we didn't know he could talk to snakes. We wouldn't have bothered otherwise," Goyle complained. "We would have used spiders or something."

Ron paled.

"Well, how is this for funny? Both of you have detention everyday for two weeks," Severus growled at them. "With Mr. Filch."

Now it was Crabbe and Goyle's turn to pale.

TBC: