A/N So, here's the second chapter, I hope it gets as good a reception as the first! Any helpful tips and and constructive criticism would be much appreciated. Oh, and I do love it when people R&R, it makes me happy to know that people like it =)

Disclaimer If you recognise it... it's probably not mine. All hail the almighty JKR!

'Parseltongue'

Mind speak

2. Finding

Kings Cross Station was just the same as he remembered it being from a school trip a few years ago. Harry was trying desperately to keep up with McGonagall's rapid pace whilst steering a baggage trolley safely around the general masses, ignoring the irate hisses coming from the snakes wrapped around his body under his robes and the strange looks that Hedwig attracted from the muggles. He had half a mind to ask the professor to slow down, but the notion was rejected as soon as it came into his head. He could cope.

They came to a stop on platform nine and Harry tried to regain some of his breath back from the vigorous walk. Upon seeing Harry's condition the professor cast him an apologetic look, Harry pretended not to see it as he straightened up and looked around. There was no train here. Harry looked again at his ticket, "9 and ¾?" he asked, looking expectantly at the professor before she could open her mouth.

McGonagall gave a little nod towards one of the supports holding up the roof eyeing it sternly. Harry followed this nod, "Through there?" he asked incredulously, dubiously looking up and down the very solid looking wall.

"Fear not Mr. Potter, just walk straight through and you shall arrive safely on the other side. Unfortunately I will have to leave you here as I have some duties to attend to at the school," she paused to cast him a smile, but Harry was still watching the wall mistrustfully, "I'll see you at school, don't be late and have a safe and pleasant journey."

Harry felt a slight shift of air and found that, true to her word, McGonagall had disappeared from his side. He blinked at the empty space, unable to help the coil of jealousy in the pit of his stomach from forming. Magic was amazing, why had he only just found out about it now?

He avidly watched as a strangely dressed gang of redheads approached the portal to the hidden platform. He saw one of the younger ones turning his head in Harry's direction, so he tucked his head down slightly and slowly started walking further on. He disappeared behind the pillar, then stopped so he could eavesdrop on the strange family.

"You first Fred, then George, Percy and then you Ron," came the strained, tight voice of the mother of the family. Harry was amused with the twins', Fred and George's, trickery before the chatter diminished. He decided to take a peek and was startled, and vaguely humoured, by the sight of the last of the red headed boys charge straight at the wall, eyes full of fear. Then he disappeared, straight thought it.

Harry felt his heart rate increase with adrenaline. The wizarding world was mad, surely there were more, less obvious, ways into the wizarding world. What if a non-magical slipped and fell through by accident? He shook his head incredulously, waited for the rest of the family, the mother, father and young daughter to go through, then gritted his teeth and forced himself to walk through at a more dignified pace.

He gasped as he experienced something akin to having a bucket of freezing water poured over his head, emerging with more haste then he went entered. The two snakes he had hiding under his robes also gave a hiss of displeasure, coiling tighter around Harry's waist.

Cold, the female, Chiana, complained, wriggling closer still to Harry's body. Rasp, the male, was silent, as was often his way, but still snuggled closer. Harry couldn't help but stifle a chuckle.

Of course, the giant, beautiful, red steam engine in front of him also had a part in keeping him quiet. The platform itself was crowded, many more people were here than on the platform at King's Cross, and more people were appearing with loud cracks out of thin air, others were emerging from a cloud of green smoke over by what looked like rows of fireplaces. He quickly spotted the red headed family again, boisterous as they were. He also noted many other families, although they could be split into two groups: cold and stoic, or loud and boisterous. Harry felt another pang of jealousy, all the others had family. They all looked well taken care of, they all had a place in the world.

Harry's jealousy quickly soured further to anger. Surely with all this magic, these witches and wizards could have done something for him. Most of these children had had access to magic their entire lives, the unfairness of it made him want to stamp his feet like a spoilt toddler.

Feeling the sudden tension in his body, Rasp cautiously poked his head of the collar of Harry's robes, You are truly angry that they did nothing for you, didn't save you? Harry gritted his teeth, a bit peeved that the snake had him figured out, but no less angry.

Yes.

Chiana, who was listening in, gave a snake equivalent to a snort. Humanss, she started, will do nothing for you, unless you do something for them first, and sometimes not even then. They have little honour. Little sense of bigger family.

Thinking back on his short life, Harry had to agree.

They will fear you. Try to use you, even attempt to control you for your power. Their greed of it surpasses even that of the dwarves for gold.

Harry was startled, that was the second time Rasp had spoken to him without any prompting. At the same time, he recognised the ring of truth in those words; his companions had confirmed to him before that he was much more powerful than the average wizard. He was starting to dislike the people of this world more and more the more he heard or deduced about it. It took him a moment to realise that he was standing rather listlessly in the middle of the platform so, with a sigh, he hauled his luggage onto the train, leaving it at a luggage rack, and stumbled as an older student bustled past him without apology. He bristled with the show of discourtesy and heatedly made his way down to an empty compartment, slamming the door shut behind him.

They will not control me! He whispered as a late reply to Rasp.

No little one, he hissed back, amused, they will not. Before slithering up and coiling loosely around Harry's neck, but still hidden from view.

Harry settled himself into the cushioned seat, carelessly throwing his legs across the seats and grabbing a book out of his expandable book bag and settling down to read it. It was on recent history in the wizarding world, Harry had stayed up for most of the night before, excited with the prospect of a new magical world, reading up on a bit of magical theory, the first few chapters of his text books and this history book. He had read over the key events in the last century or so, so he knew of his new headmaster Dumbledore's duel with infamous dark lord Grindelwald, of the man he-who-must-not-be-named and his 'merry' band of followers and, what angered him the most, his downfall. The day Harry was orphaned.

He had half a mind to close the book shut in disgust, they mentioned how Harry was the 'saviour of the wizarding world', because he had ousted the nameless man, you-know-who, but had failed to realise that a one year old child had just lost his family, or the fact that no one had seen him since. Indeed, this slightly outdated book seemed to presume that he was dead. Furthermore, as a fellow outcast, he realised the obvious bias of the book, you-know-who was mentioned as evil, cruel and even deranged, but not much else. Harry did admit that he sounded a bit mad from the accounts of his attacks, but then again, most of the children, muggles, he thought darkly, at the orphanage thought that he was mad himself, whilst Harry was quite sure that he was pretty rational in his thinking.

He had read about one Sirius Black's betrayal of his parents to the nameless man and the deaths that it resulted in; all at once the childish dreams of every orphan was smashed to pieces with the knowledge that he would never have a long lost parent make a claim on him. Harry was seething, hating the man that had ruined his life. In Harry's mind, Black was more to blame than the nameless man himself as he was, after all, meant to be a close family friend; with Nameless at least his parents knew where they stood. Black would pay.

A knock had Harry forgetting his thoughts and looking up at the door, and he had to stifle a groan as he recognised the vibrant red hair within the frame, "Do.. do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full," the boy said as way of greeting. Harry watched him cautiously, still worked up over his understanding of the events ten years ago, he didn't want someone from such a loud family sitting anywhere near him now more than ever, but he could hardly be rude to him. Could he?

"As long as you're quiet; I've got a headache," Harry lied as a way of compromise and went back to his book. The other boy looked grateful enough as he took a seat.

"My name's Ron, Ron Weasley," he said proudly, offering his hand.

Harry was glaring at the words Sirius Black on the page during the introduction, looking up after only a brief pause, "Harry Potter," he replied testily, ignoring the hand.

Ron's face paled, "the Harry Potter?!" he asked in a stage whisper.

Now Harry was annoyed, this boy had just ruined the quiet space that Harry had found for himself to stew and learn more about this new world, "Didn't you hear me? Or maybe you just don't believe me? Yes, I am the Harry Potter, the boy-who-can't-remember-his-parents!" he answered harshly before turning back to his book.

Ron blinked, surprised, before his face morphed into one of fear and embarrassment, "Sorry mate, I didn't -"

"I am not your mate. Just shut up and be quiet if you're going to sit here," Harry growled back aggressively, deliberately sticking his head closer into his book.

Nearly four hours in and one disturbance later, a bushy haired girl by the name of Hermione Granger, a prefect knocked on the compartment door and told the pair inside to change into their school robes. A half hour later and they were at their destination, Weasley hurried away as soon as the train had stopped. Students with glittering prefect badges ushered all the first years off the train and towards a giant of a man, both in height and girth.

"Firs' years this way! Firs' years!" game the giant's gruff voice.

Harry made sure to follow the instructions, following silently behind the group of tiny bodies in black robes, and couldn't help but gasp as the path cleared to reveal a beautiful view of a castle, the lake in front of it glistening with the reflections of both the lights in the castle and the softly glowing moon. Harry would have described it as a scene out of a story book, if he could have remembered ever having one read to him.

"- okay? No more to four to a boat!"

Harry hadn't even realised that the giant was talking, focused as he was on the beauty, but his eyes followed his future classmates as they divided themselves into groups of four and apprehensively stepped into the wooden rowing boats that lay innocently along the shoreline. Harry swallowed nervously, noting with distaste that the giant had a whole row boat to himself, before filling in the only available seat left, next to Ron Weasley.

Ron's face dropped when he stepped into the boat, and Harry sneered in return. The other two in the boat, the bushy haired Granger girl from the train, and an unknown pudgy faced boy must have felt the unease, as they remained silent for the whole journey. Harry was content to ignore them and gaze with longing at the castle, feeling as both his serpentine companions discretely poked their heads out for a look as well.

x ~ x ~ x

"Potter, Harry," McGonagall called out, and offered a tight smile by way of greeting.

Harry walked up the stone steps to the hat with only the slightest hint of nervousness of being paraded in front of the whole school. He hated crowds. Hermione Granger had been sorted into Ravenclaw, but by the way the muggleborn had recited most of Hogwarts: A History on the walk to the hall he wasn't surprised. Her companion on the boat had gone to Gryffindor, and the pompous blonde haired boy he had refused to befriend on the stairs before the doors was sorted into Slytherin.

He eyed all the houses with distaste as he sat himself on the stool and the hat was placed on his head, he didn't really want much to do with any of them.

Oh really now? Isn't that interesting?

Harry froze, eyes going wide at the unexpectedly loud voice inside his head. Who.. no, what are you?

He could feel an amused rumble from the enchanted hat, A hat, obviously, now then, where to place you?

Do you have to 'place' me at all? Harry thought back, despondent but desperate.

Of course I do, came the reply, but you would not do well in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor with that attitude, and out of the two, I think you would thrive more in...

"RAVENCLAW!"

Harry's stomach lurched; he would be in the same house as loud, know-it-all Granger. But he sighed as the hat was lifted off his head and attempted a smile towards his new house, by the looks that they, namely Granger, were giving him, he needed to work on it. To be positive, at least he wasn't with the snob Malfoy, or the rowdy, judging by the family, Weasley. He sat down next to another first year boy and opposite Granger, offering a smaller smile and then sending signals that he wanted to be left alone. If there was one thing that he would never disillusion himself of, was that friends were never to be trusted, after all, his parent's were betrayed by their best friend, and now they were dead.

'What are you thinking child?' Harry nearly jumped in surprise as he heard Rasp's voice near his ear.

'That I will never be foolish enough believe in friends," he whispered back, his soft hisses going completely unheard by the rest of the table.

'That is good,' Chiana replied, pleased, 'they only want you for your fame.'

'And my power,' Harry agreed, remembering Rasp's earlier words, 'I will not let them use me.'

"Ever," he said quietly in English, looking up and noticing the eerie twinkle in the Headmaster's eyes as he delivered his speech seemingly to Harry alone.

"Third floor corridors are out of bounds and should not be entered unless you wish to experience a very unpleasant death," the twinkle in the man's eye seemed to increase at this, as if revelling at the fate any poor unfortunate soul who wandered there. Harry shuddered, and people thought he was mad! He resolved to stay as far away from the headmaster, and his deathly corridors, as he possibly could.

There was a loud clap from the head table, and suddenly there was a variety of food stretched the whole way down the house tables with plates and cutlery appearing in front of every student. Harry's eyes near boggled at the sight of so much food in front of him. Magic was truly wonderful, as were the cooks.

The rest of the table introduced themselves to each other, Terry Boot, Granger, Michael Corner, Anthony Goldstein, Padma Patil (who's twin sister was Gryffindor) and Lisa Turpin, Harry quietly said his name and nothing more, content to listen to the others as they chattered.

Hermione was talking excitedly about the school's vast library and Harry made a mental note to visit it as soon as possible, then he wondered whether it was worth 'befriending' the bushy haired girl for her obvious enthusiasm for research. It would probably be better to wait for a week or two, to allow him to assess his housemates before deciding if any of them had any traits that he could use to his advantage. He then could consider looking to the rest of the year and possibly older students. But these plans were for the future, what he really needed to do now was master his magic, get his head down and study hard so he could be the best.

'I will be the best,' he whispered down to his companions.

There was a slight pause as the snakes registered the words, 'Why? What need have you to be the very best?' Chiana asked, somewhat innocently.

Harry's eyes hardened and he felt his resolve strengthen as he realised his goal, 'So I can kill Sirius Black.'

A/N Like it? Hate it? From here to the next chapter there's a time skip of a few years just when everything starts to get you're thinking 'why would it ever happen like that?' I hope some things will make themselves clearer in the future. Sorry for the shorter update, but since you're all such lovely people I really wanted to get another chapter out for you all (It's still nearly 3000 words... =) ).

Thank you for reading!

apisci