Chapter Five

"I said, get your things," Snape hissed impatiently.

"And I said no," Harry said, frowning. "I don't know you, and you're telling me to 'pack my things, we're leaving'? You aren't even giving me a choice!"

The boy has a point, human, Slyther hissed. Leave at once.

Harry ignored the snake, and continued to keep his gaze with the man. "You don't have one," Snape sneered. "Albus told me to get you and bring you back to Hogwarts. Why insist on being so stubborn?"

Harry hesitated, curiosity overwhelming him. "Albus? What's Hogwarts?"

Snape clenched his teeth together through anger. "I will explain if you just come with me!"

Harry faltered, forgetting everything about 'never talk or go with strangers.' He wanted to know who Albus was, and what Hogwarts was, but he just didn't feel safe.

Don't listen to him, Slyther hissed. Don't you ever watch shows about humans kidnapping little humans?

"But I want to know what Hogwarts is," Harry whined, glancing down at the snake that was still on the floor. "And who Albus is."

You'd rather knowledge about something outrageous, at the cost of losing your life?

"I don't think he's going to hurt me," Harry said.

And you know this how? Slyther asked impatiently.

"A feeling," Harry responded.

"Enough of the chitchat," Snape hissed, scowling. "Get your things, we are leaving."

Don't do it! Slyther demanded, crawling up Harry's leg and coiling back around his arm. Don't kill yourself just for knowledge!

"I told you that I don't think he's going to hurt me," Harry said quietly. "No matter how angry and…mean he looks."

Don't say I didn't warn you.

"Okay," Harry said to Snape. "I'll come with you; on one condition."

Snape sneered. "And that would be?" He asked sarcastically

"That Slyther can come with me," Harry said.

That's right! Slyther said. Wherever this human goes, I go.

"And I assume that that thing on your arm is what you call, 'Slyther'?"

"That's right," Harry said defiantly. "And he's not a thing, either! Slyther is a snake."

"Sorry for my misinterpretation," Snape chafed. He looked anything but sorry, but Harry didn't care.

"So…Slyther can come?" Harry asked tentatively.

"If it must." Snape made no sign of referring to Slyther as 'snake' or 'he.'

"All right," Harry said slowly. He warily walked over to Snape, standing in front of him.

"Do you not need anything?" Snape asked impatiently. Harry shook his head.

"No, nothing." A dawned look came across his face. "Wait, there is something—" He cut himself off and raced back into the cupboard and pulled out a photo of his mom that he had found in Petunia's trash can.

"There," Harry said, making his way back in front of Snape. "This is all I want to bring." Snape looked as if he was about to say something, but changed his mind about it.

Harry glanced up at Snape expectantly. "Well? How do we go to this place?"

-

"Ah, Harry," an old, elderly looking man welcomed warmly. "So glad you could make it."

"This is Hogwarts?" Harry said, looking around the office. He expected it to be a bit bigger.

"Oh, no, dear boy," Albus chuckled. "This is my office."

"Oh," Harry replied. "Who are you, sir?"

"Albus Dumbledore," came the reply, while Slyther said at the same time,

It's big enough, though, isn't it?

"It's really not that big," Harry hissed, making sure that the old man didn't see. He didn't want this Albus to think he was…well, weird, like everyone else did.

You try being a snake, Slyther said.

"What am I doing here?" Harry asked Albus. "Am I…in trouble?"

"No," Albus replied with a gentle smile. "I heard that Vernon and Petunia Dursley went to Mexico, correct?"

"And Dudley," Harry added.

"They left you behind?"

Harry hesitated before answering Albus's question. "Well …Yeah."

"Why is that, Harry?" Albus asked, a small frown formed on his thin, worn out lips.

Because the Dursleys hate me, Harry wanted to say. I'm a freak. "I haven't a clue, sir," he lied.

Liar! Slyther said. But Harry ignored the snake.

"So…you don't know why they left you when they went to Mexico, Harry?"

Harry shook his head. "No, sir."

"Have you had anything to eat?" Albus inquired.

Except for a moldy sandwich? Oh, and a block of cheese and something canned? "A bit, sir."

"Well, if you're hungry, I can get some House Elves to make something for you." Harry was too tired to question anything, and just muttered out a relieved thank you.

"So," Albus continued, "you'll go with Severus to his private chambers, if you please—"

"Excuse me?" Snape thundered.

"That is, if you don't mind, Severus—"

"I do mind!" Snape exclaimed, scowling. "No way will Potter stay in my chambers."

"Please, Severus—"

"No means no," Snape hissed dangerously. Albus sighed wearily and looked at Harry apologetically.

"Would you step out for a moment, please, Harry?" Harry nodded, glancing at the two before awkwardly stepping outside.

Well, he isn't your biggest fan, said Slyther.

"Who?" Harry asked.

The greasy haired one. Ooh, how I wish I had the chance to bite him now.

Harry smiled. He looked around. "This must be Hogwarts," he said to himself. "Or a bit of it anyway."

What is Hogwarts? Slyther asked.

"I dunno." He wished he'd have some time to ask questions, because he had an amplitude of questions he needed and wanted answered.

-

"Potter," Snape seethed. Harry stepped back inside Albus's office awkwardly, feeling a bit relieved that he had Slyther on his arm.

"As I was saying," Albus started, "you will go with Severus to his chambers whilst the House Elves prepare something for you to eat."

"So…it's all right?" Harry said softly, glancing up at Snape.

"Yes," he hissed with a sneer.

"Oh…'kay." Harry awkwardly glanced down at the floor before looking back up at Albus as he spoke, still in the same gentle tone,

"Oh, and Harry?"

"Yeah?"

He eyed Harry's arm. "What is that around your arm?"

Harry smiled embarrassedly. "It's my snake, sir."

"Ah, I see," Albus said.

Harry glanced up at Snape, who was looking antagonized and incensed. From right then, Harry could tell he wasn't going to have a good summer at all.

This was the first time that Harry actually wished he could stay at the Dursley's alone—well, not completely alone, really. He still had Slyther.

-

A/N: Thanks for sticking around. Chapter Six will be up soon. Ooh, and by the way, just a little note to everybody who might review and that has already finished the Deathly Hallows, that until I finished reading my own copy of the new HP book, to not put any spoilers in reviews! I'm only on page 300 so far (I'm really anxious to see what happens, I can't seem to be able to put it down...)

Thanks to everyone; Cheers!