Chapter Nine

"So, Harry," Remus started the next day as he, Harry and Slyther were in the Great Hall eating breakfast, "what would you like to do today?"

Harry bit his lip in thought before answering. "Er…I'm not sure. What can we do today?"

"Well," Remus started off slowly, "We can go sit and talk in the Quidditch Pitch stands, since the students are home for the summer and no one will be practicing."

"Quidditch?" Harry repeated. He hadn't heard such a thing yet, and he was curious as to know what it was.

Remus smiled. "Quidditch. It's a game that wizards and witches play on brooms, with a Quaffle, Bludger and a Snitch," he explained.

"Wow," Harry breathed, his eyes dancing with excitement. "Brooms? Actual flying brooms? Not the ones that you sweep with?"

Remus nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "No Harry, actual flying brooms," he confirmed.

I'd rather watch Slytherin play. Hey, Harry, did you know that if you take the 'in' out of 'Slytherin' it becomes 'Slyther', like that you named me?

"Really?" Harry looked down at his plate, which Slyther was curled up on, finishing the last bite of his fish. He turned his attention back towards Remus with interest. "Can we go talk in the Quidditch Pitch stands?"

"Only if you want to," said Remus.

"I want to!" Harry exclaimed enthusiastically. "Do you think maybe when I start Hogwarts I'll be able to play Quidditch?" He asked.

"You have to be in your second year to try out for Quidditch," Remus explained. "But I'm sure once you're in your second year and you try out you'll be fantastic; if you take after your father."

Harry's eyes shone with interest and surprise. "My dad played Quidditch?"

"Yes," Remus confirmed. "He was a Chaser."

"What are all the positions?" Harry asked.

"Well, there's a one Keeper," Remus started off slowly, "two Beaters, three Chasers, and a Seeker."

"What position do you think I'll get when I'm in my second year?" Harry asked, a thoughtful look crossed his face. "Maybe I'll be a Chaser, like my dad. Or maybe…maybe I'll be a Beater. A Seeker sounds good, too," he added.

"Well, you'll just see, won't you?" Remus said with a grin. Harry grinned back.

"Yeah."

I should be put in Slytherin, Slyther said. I like Slytherin. Slyther the Slytherin. Perfect fit, isn't it? Slytherin, Slytherin, Slytherin, Slyther chanted happily.

Harry just grinned at Slyther's foolishness.

Maybe I'll stop hanging around you, Slyther mused, and start hanging out with the Slytherins themselves. Its emblem is a serpent, is it not? I'd make a wonderful mascot!

Harry frowned, looking back down at Slyther. "You wouldn't…would you?"

It's better than listening to your on going complaints and worries about a 'stalker' 'watching you' all the time. And you won't even listen to me when I'm telling you that you're just being PARANOID!

Harry tried to fight the sudden feeling of hurt that washed over him. Instead, he tried to turn that hurt into anger. "Thanks a lot," he said accusingly. "I thought you were my friend, Slyther."

"Is everything okay?" Remus asked, his sudden look of amusement that was placed on his face as he watched the snake and Harry converse turned to one of worry and concern at Harry's sudden facial feature: Hurt.

"I'm fine," Harry said with a sniff, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat. He forced a smile onto his face. "Let's go, huh?" Harry jumped up from the chair and took Remus's hand as they walked out of the Great Hall, hardly bothering to tell Snape where they were going since he had heard their conversation anyway.

"You're not going to bring your snake?" Remus asked. Harry gave Remus a grin and shook his head.

"Nah. He wanted to stay there."

"Are you sure?" asked Remus. "He might get lost or…er…stepped on. Don't you want to—"

"Nope," Harry interrupted with another shake of his head. "Slyther wanted to stay there and look for more fish, and he's a stubborn one." I'm not talking to Slyther, Harry confessed in his head. How can he say that? That was just plain mean…he's plain mean…

I'm not deaf, human, Slyther's voice snapped in Harry's head. I can still hear you. And take that back, will you? I'm not mean, definitely not. I just state the truth. I was getting tired of you complaining about your suspicions that somebody was 'watching you.' You weren't even listening to me when I suggested that MAYBE you were just being paranoid!

I did listen to you! Harry debated. But I don't even know what paranoid means! Harry ignored Slyther as the snake tried to explain.

"Wow," Harry breathed as Remus led him to the stands surrounding the Quidditch pitch. "It's so big. I can imagine them flying on brooms!" He exclaimed as he eyed the pitch in amazement. "Wow," Harry repeated.

"Nice, isn't it?" Remus said with a smile. "I remember coming up into these stands and watching James practice."

Harry looked up at Remus, who had a dreamy expression on his face. Like he was re-living that moment. "Will you tell me more about my dad today?" Harry asked quietly, bringing Remus back into reality. "And my mum? And Hogwarts? And about you…and, and Sirius—"

"Of course," Remus said, interrupting Harry with a smile.

"Really?" Harry looked surprised as he looked up at Remus. Remus laughed.

"Really." He paused, hesitating. "Can I ask you something, Harry?" Harry nodded enthusiastically. "You live with the Dursleys, don't you, Harry?" Harry nodded again, this time slow and not so enthusiastically. "Did they ever…mistreat you?"

"I don't know what you mean," Harry said. "But, I'll take a guess. Like, did they treat me unfairly?" Remus looked thoughtful.

"It's a way of putting it."

"Well," Harry started out slowly, thoughtful. "I lived in a cupboard for as long as I can remember, and I always—"

"Hold up," Remus commanded, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder to shush him. "A cupboard? Like a… cupboard?" Harry nodded, his eyes flickering to the Quidditch pitch for a second.

"Yeah. And I always did the chores, and I cooked their food…what else? Oh, I did Aunt Petunia's garden sometime. I weeded it and stuff."

"When I say 'mistreat', Harry, I mean did the Dursleys ever…hurt you?"

A look of realization crossed Harry's face. "Oh I get it! You mean did they ever hurt my feelings? Not really, but when I was three Uncle Vernon yelled at me and made me cry for not mowing the lawn. But I just didn't have the strength to mow the lawn—"

Remus grinned faintly. "No, no, Harry. Did he ever abuse you? Did he ever touch you in places you didn't want to be touched? Did he ever hurt you physically?"

"Oh," Harry said, frowning. "No. Why?"

"I just wanted to know," Remus said softly. "You never know with Vernon Dursley. They did leave you all by yourself while they went on a vacation to Mexico."

Harry shrugged, now turning his attention back to the Quidditch practice. "They were too excited to think of me. Uncle Vernon just told me not to answer the door or the phone, and to stay in my cupboard until they came home."

Remus scowled. "That's not right. You can't stay in a cupboard for as long as they stay in Mexico. That'd be…suicide."

"Suicide?" Harry repeated, frowning. "What does that mean?"

Remus shook his head dismissively. "Never mind. But if you had stayed in your cupboard, Harry, you wouldn't of had anything to eat or drink for days."

"I'd probably be dead by now." Harry muttered. He folded his arms and laid back in the seat, tuning into the rest of the practice.

"Just be thankful you're not."

I'm almost there, Slyther's voice said in Harry's mind. I'm not far from you, Harry-human.

Stay out of my head, Harry said.

It's hard not to. Now, I see the field. Wow, it is pretty big, isn't it, human?

I'm not speaking to you, Harry thought stubbornly.

I'm not speaking to you, either, Slyther said.

Yes, you are! Harry exclaimed. You're talking to me now.

So are you, Slyther pointed out

"Can I go exploring Hogwarts grounds?" Harry asked out of the blue.

Remus looked at Harry thoughtfully. "I suppose if I come with you it'd be all right."

"No," Harry said with a shake of his head. "By myself. I won't go far."

In turn, Remus shook his head. "No, Harry. Not by yourself. Definitely not by yourself."

"Fine," Harry gave in. "You can come if you want." Remus took Harry's hand in his, stepping down off the stands and making their way onto the grass.

"Where did you want to go, Harry?" Remus asked. Harry shrugged his shoulders, taking in the view of everything that surrounded them.

"Everywhere. I wanted to look at everything. Especially that big tree!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes dancing with excitement. "That's a big tree I saw, wasn't it? I want to look at it."

Remus shook his head almost immediately. "No, Harry. I don't think so."

Harry frowned, tilting his head back so he could look at Remus. "Why not?"

"Because," Remus said uncomfortably. "I just don't think you should look there, Harry."

What did I tell you? Slyther's voice said matter-of-factly. He's keeping something from you. Why else wouldn't he let you go see that tree?

Have fun finding us, Harry snapped, getting fed up with the snake. We're not at the Quidditch Pitch anymore.

Well, how rude! Slyther exclaimed. I'm already there. Ah…now where are you, human?

"Let's play hide and seek," Harry said suddenly to Remus with a smile. "You count. I'll hide."

"No, Harry," Remus said with a laugh. "I don't think we should play that out here. It's too dangerous."

"Please?" Harry pouted. "I wanna play, Remus. It'll be fun."

Remus sighed, surveying Harry. "You won't go far, will you, Harry?" Harry shook his head, grinning.

"Nope."

"Promise," Remus said. "Promise that you won't go too far."

"Cross my heart!" Harry lied. "I won't go anywhere dangerous or too far. Now turn around and count to fifty!"

"Fifty?" Remus repeated, frowning. "Why fif—"

"Do it!" Harry exclaimed. "And do it slowly. No, make it forty and count slowly." Remus opened his mouth to debate, but Harry gave him a 'look.' Giving in, Remus sighed and turned around.

"One…two…three…" Harry glanced at Remus before running towards the big tree.

-

"Why wouldn't Remus let me see you?" Harry mused out loud, standing not too close to the tree. "You're a big tree, aren't you?"

Harry let his eyes wander the tree, finding it fascinating. He had never seen a tree so big. Harry suddenly felt his heart beat quicken as he felt a pair of eyes looking at him from behind.

Turning around ever so slowly, Harry saw it was only a dog. "How did you get here?" Harry wondered out loud. "Do you like the tree, too, dog?" He smiled, bending down and patting his knee, inviting the dog over. He had never been scared of dogs; he had always loved them. Maybe this was why he felt so calm and relaxed towards the strange, stray dog.

"Are you Snape's dog?" Harry bit his lip, thinking about it. "I don't think he has a dog. He's too mean for a dog."

Where are you now, human? Slyther asked.

"Leave me alone, Slyther," Harry said out loud, getting frustrated with the snake.

Hah! I can still hear you! Keep talking, human, your voice will lead me to where you are.

"Get out of my head," Harry demanded. "You're not welcome there. Maybe I'll just take this dog with me and leave you! He'll be my friend, and he won't call me paranoid! I doubt he'd even be able to talk like you can!"

Ah, yes! A man's best friend, eh? Just go ahead; take the mutt and leave me. Of all the adventures we've endured together, now you decide to abandon me! Well, this'll give me more time to hang out with the Slytherins now, won't it?

"Fine," Harry snapped. "Go ahead. The Slytherins would be better friends then me, huh?"

You started it, Slyther accused. Abandoning me! Please, from the heavens above us, tell me there's decent humans in the world!

"You must think I'm pretty crazy, huh, dog?" Harry asked the black, shaggy dog. "Talking to myself. But I'm not, I'm talking to my snake." Harry looked to his left, expecting Remus to appear and scold him for disobeying him and coming to the tree. "Remus probably finished counting to forty and is looking for me."

Without hesitation, the dog moved forward. Harry grinned. "There you go. See? I won't bite. I just hope you don't, either." The dog now stood in front of Harry, looking at him almost pleadingly. He nudged Harry's cheek with his wet nose, causing Harry to sob with laughter. "Stop doing that! It's so…wet, and it tickles!"

As if the dog could understand him, he stopped and resumed looking at Harry through awkward blue-grey eyes.

"I've never seen a dog with blue eyes before," Harry mused. "It's almost a blue-grey, isn't it? I suppose there's some dogs out there with that eye color, huh?" He grinned. "I better go. I don't want Remus to get mad at me and yell, if he does. I get enough yelling-at from Snape." He tried to get up, but the dog held him down. Like he didn't want Harry to go. "You better let go, dog," Harry said warningly.

But the shaggy dog didn't listen. Instead, with its teeth, the dog grabbed onto Harry's shirt, practically dragging him towards the trees.

"Let go!" Harry screamed. "I thought you were a nice dog! You're going to rip my shirt; let go!"

Human? Slyther's voice asked questioningly. I hear screaming. I'm close. Are you okay?

Get Remus, Harry pleaded in his mind. Bring him towards the tree. The dog…it's out of control…

You're okay though, aren't you? Slyther said tentatively.

Just do it!

Harry was amazed as the dog brought him inside of the tree, and into what seemed like a shack. An old, worn-down, abandoned shack. His chest moved up and down in rhythm with his breathing as the dog transformed into a human with black shaggy hair, almost like the dogs fur. And blue-grey eyes, just like the dog.

"Harry," the man rasped, looking so relieved. Harry couldn't believe that this was his dog. Well, not technically his, but it almost seemed like it.

"Great," Harry gulped, "not only can my dog talk, it can transform into a human as well."