Chapter Eight

"Hurry up," Snape growled. "I won't wait all day for you, Potter."

"I'm sorry!" Harry cried, tearing the room apart in search for Slyther. "I can't find Slyther! He's not answering me either; I'm worried." He bent down and lifted up the chair, surveying the leg of it just in case.

"It's only a snake," Snape pointed out.

"Yes, but it's my snake! My friend," Harry protested.

Keep it down, Slyther yawned. I'm trying to get some sleep.

"Where are you?" Harry demanded, stopping in his tracks.

Sheesh, grumpy, aren't we? I think the greasy human's rubbing off on you a bit. Why do you want to know where I am? I'm sleeping.

"But we're going down to the Great Hall," Harry said excitedly to the air, since he hadn't a clue where the snake was. He ignored Snape's exasperated sigh. "To eat lunch. And Remus Lupin is there, don't you wanna meet him?"

Can't I stay here and sleep? I'd rather do that, responded Slyther.

"Aren't you hungry?" Harry asked. He searched the room with his eyes, in case he missed a spot. Still, Slyther was hidden.

Will there be fish? Slyther mused.

"Uh…I dunno. Maybe."

All right! Slyther slithered out from a corner in the wall and made his way over to Harry. Harry bent down to pick him up and put him on his arm, but Slyther slithered up Harry's arm and onto his head.

"Er…aren't you scared that I'll throw you off my head again?" Harry asked.

Slyther made a sound like a snort. Me? Scared? You've got the wrong snake. But I'm hoping that you won't throw me off your head again.

"I'll try not to," Harry promised. He glanced up (carefully, as to not jerk Slyther off of his head again) at Snape, who was looking at the two with an unpleasant expression.

"Are you two done your incessant loquacious?" Snape snapped.

Harry furrowed his brow in confusion. Loquacious? What did that mean? "Uh…yeah?"

I think the greasy human is intending for you to go down to eat your 'lunch.' But…why couldn't he just say that, instead of glaring at you? Slyther asked. As Snape started to move, Harry had to take long strides to keep up with him.

"I dunno," Harry said. "I guess it's just not…him. Saying what he means, that is."

He could at least wait up for you, couldn't he? Rude. Plain rude. Ooh, I how I have to fight the urge to sink my teeth into that horrid flesh—

Harry scrunched his nose up in disgust. "Not before lunch, okay, Slyther?" He picked his pace up again as Snape started to walk faster.

Of course. That is, as long as they have fish. I feel as if I hadn't eaten for days.

Harry shivered under the sudden rash of Goosebumps on his arm. He still couldn't fight off that feeling; that someone was watching him. "Slyther," he said quietly, "is there anybody here with us?"

The greasy human, Slyther replied.

"Other than Snape," Harry said. He kept his eyes forward and his face natural.

Not that I can see. Just you, me and the greasy human. Why?

"Because I feel like someone's watching me," Harry admitted. "I'm crazy, right?"

You're gifted, Harry. You would know if you're crazy or not.

Harry couldn't help but smile as he and Slyther entered the Great Hall. What caught his attention the most, though, was the ceiling. Candles floated magically through the air, and Harry had a sneaky suspicion that the ceiling was probably enchanted, to show a view of the sky as it had currently appeared outside of Hogwarts.

"Wow," Harry breathed with a smile. "It's so…big. And fancy."

Ah…look at all that food! As long as it has fish, I'm happy, Slyther said happily as they followed Snape to the table at the front filled with the staff of Hogwarts.

"Ah, Harry," Dumbledore said as Harry came up to the table. "I'd like you to meet Remus Lupin."

Harry gave a polite smile to the man sitting next to Dumbledore. "Hello," he said. Remus's hair was a light brown, as were his eyes. He smiled back at Harry.

"Hello, Harry. I've been looking forward to meeting you," Remus responded.

I don't trust him, Slyther spoke up from on top of Harry's head. You can see it in his eyes…he's keeping something from you.

Harry kept the smile on his face, ignoring Slyther. He put his hands up, grasping the snake in his hands. He bent down and laid Slyther on the floor. "Go find something to do. And don't get stepped on," he hissed.

Yes, O great human, Slyther said sarcastically. Just remember what I said. Be careful around the new human. There's something about him—

Harry tuned the rest of Slyther's warnings out. He sat next to Snape, who was ignoring him completely; as if he didn't exist. And what was worse, he could still hear Slyther in the back of his mind.

Fish…fish…of all the things that are here, I can't find fish! These humans don't know the joy of life…the slipperiness of the fish, the way they just smoothly slip down…argh…

"Are you all right?" Remus asked Harry. Harry dropped his fork on his plate and looked up, startled at the sudden voice.

"Huh?"

Remus's expression suddenly turned to one of confusion. "I asked if you were okay. You looked out of it."

Harry just shrugged and picked his fork back up, supporting his chin with his hand. "I'm okay. I feel funny, though."

Remus's brow creased, and he looked more concerned rather than confused. "Funny? In what way?"

Harry hesitated, not knowing whether or not he should tell Remus about his suspicions. Should he? He had just met Remus Lupin. "It's nothing," Harry said with another shrug. "Maybe I'm just hungry."

"Are you sure?" Remus asked, not looking the least bit convinced. "Do you feel sick? Because you don't have to eat if you feel sick. I can take you—"

"No," Harry interrupted with a shake of his head. "I'm fine. Just hungry." He took a better grip of the fork he was holding and plunged it into the potatoes on his plate, taking a bite. "See? Just hungry."

Remus still didn't look convinced as he turned back to his own food. Once Remus had turned, Harry dropped his fork and put his chin back in his hand, observing the staff as they ate and chatted away.

Slyther? Harry thought, making sure he wouldn't speak out. Where are you?

Here, Slyther responded,though Harry hadn't a clue where 'here' was. Looking for fish. Can you believe that I still haven't found any?

Harry ignored the complaints from Slyther. Where are you? I don't want to stay here anymore…it's too noisy, and I still feel like somebody's watching me. I don't like it.

Well, well, paranoid aren't we? Slyther said, rather matter-of-factly.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Remus's voice cut into Harry's thoughts. Harry jerked his eyes away from the Great Hall doors and looked up at the man.

"Huh?"

"Is everything okay?" Remus asked out of the blue. "Do you feel sick or something?"

"No," Harry insisted, "everything's fine."

"No," Remus said, "everything's not. You can tell me what's wrong, Harry. I'm sure you know that."

Harry hesitated. Could he tell Remus what he thought? Albus had told him that Remus was his fathers friend when they attended Hogwarts, but still…

"Nothing," Harry said with a grin. "Just thinking. I'm not very hungry," he added, glancing down at the plate of food in front of him, with just a bite taken from his potatoes.

"But you said you were starving a little while back," Remus pointed out with a look of disbelief. "It's really all right, Harry. Whatever you have on your mind that's bugging you, you can trust me. You can."

"My snake said I'm just 'paranoid'," Harry blurted out. "But I don't think I am. I—"

"Wait," Remus interrupted, holding up his hand. "Your snake?"

"Yeah," Harry started, "I can talk to my snake"—he hesitated—"That's not bad, is it?"

"Just…continue," Remus said, giving Harry back his full attention.

"I feel as if somebody's watching me," Harry admitted. "I just get this…feeling. Am I paranoid?"

"Well," Remus started slowly, "if you think that somebody is watching you, we ought to at least take some more precautions. Albus did tell you about…everything, didn't he?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, starting to feel relieved that Remus believed him, unlike Slyther, who just thought he was plain paranoid. Harry just had to remember to ask Remus after if he had a chance just what 'paranoid' meant.

"So he explained to you about…Hogwarts and what happened to your parents? About…Sirius Black?"

"Yeah," Harry repeated. "Everything—at least, I think so."

"Well, then you must know why I'm here," said Remus. "But if at anytime you think that somebody is watching you, then you can tell me, all right?"

"You mean like…right now?"

"Do you think that somebody's watching you now?" Remus asked, eyebrows raised. Harry bit his lip, nodding. Remus's tore his eyes away from Harry, scanning the Great Hall, which was completely bare and empty without the students, since everybody (except for some of the staff) were at home. "I don't see anyone, Harry," he finally said.

"Maybe Slyther's right," Harry said. "Maybe I am being paranoid." Whatever that means.

Well, my hunt for fish is over now, Slyther voice said glumly. None. Absolutely none I could find. Can you believe it? Harry suddenly noticed Slyther slither around the floor by Harry's feet.

Harry bent down and picked Slyther up. "Sorry. Maybe we can ask the people that make the food to make some fish, huh?"

Most definitely, Slyther said. Some people just don't know the wonders of fish! Do you think that maybe they could get some goldfish, fresh from a pond?

Harry grinned, letting Slyther coil around his arm instead of curling up on top of his head. "Maybe."

"So this is the snake you were talking about," Remus spoke up with a grin.

You told him about me? How much did you tell the new human, human? You know I don't trust him, why tell? Some human you are; I cannot believe you! He's lying, human. He's keeping something from you, can't you see?

"He's hungry," Harry said with a smile. He looked back down at Slyther. "Maybe we should go find something to do, huh, Slyther?" Harry looked back up at Remus. "I usually stay with Slyther in Snape's 'chambers.' But you'll be there with me, right?"

"Of course," said Remus. He had a pleasant, friendly expression on his face, something that Harry had come to enjoy. He had never seen that expression on Snape's face: pleasant, friendly and amiable. And the countenance suited Remus well.

"Great," Harry said cheerfully. He shoved his plate (which was still piled with food) aside. "You can teach me a whole bunch of stuff about Hogwarts. Do you have a wand, too? Can I see it?" He paused, trying to come up with some more questions. "When will I start Hogwarts and get a wand? Will I ever start Hogwarts and get a wand?" He bit his lip, again, trying to come up with some more questions. "Will I have to go back to the Dursley's, Remus? Or can I stay here? With you and Snape…forever?"

Harry tuned out Snape's low groan and mutter of, "Oh please, no."

Remus chuckled. "One question at a time, all right, Harry?"

Harry nodded enthusiastically, and then shivered slightly as a cold rash of goosebumps drenched his arms. He shook his head—Slyther was probably right anyways. He was just being paranoid.

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A/N: I'm planning on updating with three chapters each day. That way I'll be able to update Commencement soon, and you get two extra chapters a day! Thanks to everybody!