Chapter Four
"Where are we?" Harry hissed to Slyther.
How am I suppose to know, Harry? Slyther demanded. Harry winced under the loud music, putting his fingers in his ears. He knew by the time he and Slyther left this place, he'd most likely be deaf.
"What're you doin' here, boy?" A man on a stool yelled to Harry from the loud music. "We have an age limit, and I think you're way under."
"Where am I?" Harry yelled back. The man, before replying, turned around and let out a loud whoop. "I don't like this place," Harry whispered to Slyther.
I am deaf, and it's your fault, Slyther said. You just had to come to this place to get out of that house, didn't you?
Harry frowned. "You suggested it, Slyther."
Maybe we should go now. It's too loud. Harry nodded, finding that he couldn't agree more.
The man in front of them hiccupped, obviously drunk. "We have an age limit!" He repeated. "You're way under! M—hiccup—aybe you should come b—hiccup—back in elev—hiccup—en years or so," he slurred.
"Where are we?" Harry shouted, hoping someone might answer him.
"You're right, come on," Harry said to Slyther who was wrapped around his arm. "I don't like it here. Let's go back to the Dursleys."
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Harry's heart quickened as he stepped out of the club. "Slyther," he said tentatively. "Where are we?"
You said that back in there, Slyther said, indicating the club.
"I know," Harry responded. "But which way back to the Dursleys?"
There was a ringing in Harry's ears from the music as he observed his surroundings. Houses were bathed in darkness, with one or two lights outside of the houses glowing. Even as he stood there, frozen like a statue, he became aware that each house looked alike. Giving his head a shake, Harry listened to what Slyther was saying.
I've only been with you for what, two, three days? How am I suppose to know? You should know, you've been the one living with them most of your life, not me!
"M-maybe we should go straight," Harry said. "I've never left the Dursleys at night before."
Well, I say we should start moving before it gets too dark out, Slyther advised.
"Okay," Harry said, biting his lip. He should've stayed at the Dursleys.
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Snape waited impatiently at number Four, Privet Drive. Where was Potter, and what was he doing that could possibly take this long? "You better hurry up, Potter," Snape growled to himself. "Because I'm not waiting for you any longer."
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"I can't believe it!" Harry cried. "I'm lost!"
You shouldn't be, Slyther said. You live here, remember? You should remember where you live, at least.
"It doesn't look familiar to me at night," Harry said.
You really want to wait until morning to find your way back to your home?
"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "I won't have anywhere to stay for the night."
Well…why don't you try going straight?
"I did," replied Harry. "And I ended up here. If I go back, it'll take me right back to that… place."
Then go right.
"What if it takes me somewhere else?"
Then you go left.
"What if that takes me somewhere else?" Harry asked.
Then you go around in circles.
"You're not helping any," Harry grumbled.
I'm trying to lighten up the situation.
"By annoying me?"
By trying to lighten up the situation.
"You just said that," Harry pointed out.
Stop looking at me, Slyther demanded, and look up.
Harry took his eyes off of his arm where Slyther was coiled around, and to his surprise saw the Dursleys house two houses down.
I helped you find the house, didn't I? Slyther said triumphantly.
"And how did you help me find the Dursleys house?" Harry asked, picking up his pace.
If I hadn't of been talking to you, you wouldn't have wandered into Privet Drive.
"Let's just stop arguing now," Harry said. He gave a sigh of exhaustion.
Really, I could get a fish for you to eat if you're hungry. There's a perfect pond nearby full of them, Slyther offered.
"No, I don't think so," Harry said with a shake of his head. "I don't like raw fish. Especially one that was in a pond."
Still, they're delicious, Slyther continued. You'd really enjoy them. Or, I could find an amphibian for you. But, I must admit, I prefer fish.
"Thanks for the offer," Harry said, "but no, thanks." He extended his other hand and turned the doorknob, and couldn't help but feel that he was at home. Even if, for nine years, the Dursleys hadn't really cared for him like they did with Dudley, he still couldn't help the feeling.
Slyther seemed to be thinking the same thing, too. Home sweet home, Harry.
Harry could only laugh. "It's too bad I threw that moldy sandwich out. Right now, I feel as if I could eat the whole thing. Even with all that mold on the bread and ham."
Sounds delicious, said Slyther sarcastically. Harry grinned and looked up, his smile slowly fading. His heart quickened as he saw an impatient stranger in the same room as him.
"Who are you?" Harry asked uncertainly. "I didn't let you in."
The man sneered, and Harry actually found that it suited the man well. "Severus Snape. You, I assume, are Harry Potter." He spat his name out, and clearly this 'Severus Snape' didn't take a liking to him, Harry realized.
Get out, Slyther warned. You do not belong in this house, human.
"Shhh," Harry said to Slyther. "He can't understand you, Slyther. Stay quiet."
Well, if he can't hear me, Slyther started, then I can keep talking. He won't understand, like you said.
"Just, stay quiet," Harry said, not taking his eyes off the man. He just couldn't rid the sudden rash of Goosebumps the man gave Harry.
"A parselmouth," the man mused, though he didn't look any kinder or softer. "You're to come with me, Potter. Get your things."
Harry frowned. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Oh?" The man said, with raised eyebrows. His lip curled. "I don't think you have a choice, Potter. Get your things; we're leaving."
"No!" Harry said, scowling. "I'm not going anywhere. You can't make me; Uncle Vernon told me to stay in here and not to answer the door or phone and to not leave this house."
"That didn't stop you before, did it?" Snape snarled.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, a frown still placed on his face.
The man gave an exasperated sigh. "You were just out. You disobeyed your guardians."
"So?" Harry said, hesitating. "I'm still not going anywhere with you."
I've warned you once, Slyther said, uncoiling from around Harry's arm. He slithered down Harry's leg and onto the floor over by the mans feet. Leave this place now or I bite.
"Stop it," Harry scolded. He looked up from the ground where Slyther was and up into the mans cold, black, lifeless eyes, showing that he wasn't about to back down.
Harry wasn't going anywhere with this man.
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A/N: Next chapter will be up soon! I actually have up to the forty-seventh chapter re-written already. I feel accomplished, I honestly do! Now just to upload them... :)