Blaze: new chapter

Darth: that's cool

Blaze: yup

Darth: what's going to happen in this chapter?

Blaze: Severus's reaction to Sarisa, Harry's nightmare, and Dumbledore makes an appearance

Darth: ah okay

Blaze: so here is chapter 6 and I hope that you like it, reviews are much appreciated and sorry that I have been making Harry seem a bit younger than he actually is and for the record, I have been exposed to four-year-olds, one of my classes in high school is teaching them but I forgot.

Never Say Never

Chapter 6

Nightmare

Severus found himself wondering where in the world Harry was as well as where Draco was. It was near sundown and yet no one was able to find Harry or Draco. Severus had a bad feeling that the two boys had gone into the forest in spite of being ordered not to. He hoped that wasn't the case but he couldn't see any other option at the moment.

Narcissa was worried while Lucius seemed indifferent about his own son whereabouts. Severus sneered at Lucius as he watched his wife pace worriedly in the kitchen with emotionless eyes. Narcissa glanced up as one of their house elves, Dobby, appeared before them.

"Dobby saw Master Draco and Harry coming back," Dobby said pointing a small hand toward the forest. House elves were small skinny beings with pointed ears and little hair but they were especially good at cleaning and cooking. Most Purebloods had house elves and some half-bloods had them as well. Severus preferred to do the cooking and cleaning himself to keep himself from becoming lazy like a certain long haired blonde Malfoy that he could name. Lucius wasn't that lazy but Severus knew that he didn't do anything that his house elf could do.

"Are they all right?" Narcissa asked worriedly.

"Dobby saw they fine but Dobby saw a snake with them," Dobby replied.

Narcissa's eyes went wide with surprise while Severus narrowed his eyes slightly as the blonde woman hurried to the door and opened it up, immediately throwing her arms around Draco the instant the boy entered the house.

Severus got to his feet and walked over to join Harry as the little boy came in. What surprised him the most was the small viper that was coiled around Harry's small arm and resting its' head on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, you do realize you have a snake on your arm, don't you?" he asked raising his eyebrows.

Harry giggled happily. "Yeah, her name Sarisa. She's pretty, isn't she?" he asked.

"How do you know her name?"

"She told me."

Severus frowned, a startling suspicion coming into his mind. "How exactly did she tell you?" he asked.

Sarisa hissed and Harry glanced at her, tipping his head to one side as if listening before, to Severus's greater surprise, he hissed in reply to the viper. He's Parselmouth, Severus thought more shocked than ever before.

"Sarisa said she wanna come with us," Harry said glancing up. "Can she? Please? Please?"

Severus was so shocked at discovering that Harry was Parselmouth that he barely registered the question that Harry had asked him. He was also consciously aware of Lucius watching him intently and he knew that he would have to tell Albus about what has happened here. "I do no think so, Harry," he said firmly.

"But why?" Harry protested. "She's friendly. She won't bite no one. She said so."

"Harry, it is much too dangerous to have a snake with you."

"Please?" Harry asked gazing at Severus with pleading green eyes that made Severus once again relive a memory of his beloved Lily and he found himself wondering why it is that he was unable to say no to those beautiful eyes.

He bit his lip for a long moment before scowling inwardly. Snape, you're getting soft, he thought before he narrowed his eyes. "Harry, you are only four-years-old and taking care of a pet is very hard," he said.

Sarisa hissed and Harry glanced at her. "Sarisa said she can take care of herself," he said looking back at Severus.

Out of the corner of his eye, Severus saw Lucius raise an eyebrow as if waiting for Severus's decision. He hated that he already knew what his answer was going to be. Damn those bloody green eyes.

"Fine so long as she takes care of herself and doesn't bite anyone that comes over," Severus said finally grounding out the words as if they were painful to say.

Harry's eyes glittered with happiness. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he cried happily throwing his arms around Severus, accidentally squishing Sarisa and startling Severus. He has never been hugged before, not since Lily last hugged him before she was killed and he found that it felt nice. He glared at Lucius who was watching with a raised eyebrow as he patted Harry on the back before gently removing his arms from around his waist.

Harry gazed up at him before he hissed something to Sarisa who hissed in reply; it sounded as though she was amused as well as happy at the same time.

Draco was watching the two of them with wide eyes. "Dad, I wanna pet too," he protested.

"Maybe when you get older," Narcissa said before Lucius could reply.

"Now I don't see what the big deal is," Lucius said smoothly. "I'm sure we can find a pet to keep Draco happy that we don't have to take care of until he's older."

Narcissa scowled at Lucius who merely shrugged, lips quirking in the beginnings of a very rare smile.

Severus sighed. "Look what you started," he murmured to Harry.

Harry gazed up at him with wide eyes. "I'm sorry," he whimpered.

Severus reminded himself that he had to be very gently with Harry and not his usual sardonic snarky self. "It was a joke, Harry," he said finally.

"Oh." Harry giggled slightly.

"Why don't we get something to eat? Dobby just finished dinner," Narcissa said.

"Okay," said Harry happily and he and Severus walked into the kitchen after the Malfoys.

Harry's nightmare began almost as soon as he fell asleep. He found himself whimpering as the red eyed man advanced on the pretty red haired woman in front of him. "Mummy?" Harry whimpered gazing at his mother with huge green eyes.

The red eyed man sneered at him before he glared at the red haired woman. "Step aside, woman, and I will not harm you," he said coolly in a hissing voice that sent a shiver of horror go down Harry's spine.

"No, I will not let you kill my son," the woman cried.

"Very well then," the man sneered before he raised a sick and pointed it at the woman. "Avada Kedavra!" A blast of green light emerged from the stick and slammed into the woman just after she screamed and Harry cried out in horror and fear just as the nightmare shattered.

Harry didn't realize he had screamed out loud until he felt a cold tongue gently touch his face and his eyes snapped open to reveal Sarisa gazing at him with concern in her red-brown eyes. (Are you all right, ssserpent friend?) she hissed out the question.

Harry swallowed before nodding slowly. (Yeah,) he hissed in reply though he found himself trembling with fear.

The door opened and Severus hurried into the room before sitting down beside Harry on his bed though steering clear of the viper that was curled on Harry's chest. "Are you all right, Harry?" he asked. "I heard you scream."

"Sorry," Harry whimpered.

"Don't be sorry, Harry. Was it another nightmare about your relatives?" Severus asked though he sneered out the last word.

Sarisa lifted her head. (Thisss one doesss not like your relativesss? Why?) she asked curiously.

Harry shuddered. (They beat me,) he hissed in reply.

Sarisa hissed in fury. (How dare they? I will persssonally kill them!) She hissed angrily.

(Ssseverus wantsss to do the sssame thing I sssuppossse,) Harry hissed back.

Sarisa fixed red-brown eyes on Severus before slowly nodding and sliding off of Harry before curling up on the bed that Harry had made for her when they arrived at home. Severus glanced at the snake before looking back at Harry. "Was it?" he asked.

Harry shook his head. "No," he said softly.

"Well what was it about?"

Harry hesitated feeling as though he could trust Severus even though he didn't want Severus to think he was a freak. "I don't wanna talk about it," he said softly.

Severus narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you sure?" he asked curiously. "You do know that I'll understand. What was it about?"

Harry hesitated again. "I saw a red haired woman and heard strange words and then a flash of green light and then nothing," he said finally fear deep in his voice.

Severus's eyes flashed briefly with shock. "I am sure it was nothing all too serious," he said softly. He narrowed his eyes before adding, "Why don't you try to get some more sleep?"

"'Kay." Harry lied down and closed his eyes before slowly drifting off to sleep, hoping beyond a doubt that he wouldn't have another horrible dream about the red-haired woman and content with the knowledge that Severus didn't think he was a freak for having that odd dream.

I can't believe he actually had a dream about what happened to Lily, Severus thought as he paced in the living area while waiting for Albus Dumbledore to reply to his floo call. He knew he had to tell the Headmaster about Harry being Parselmouth as well as the nightmare that Harry had.

The floo flared to life and Albus walked out, dusting off his colorful cloak and his beard before smiling, a twinkle in his eyes. "Hello Severus, what can I do for you?" he asked.

"I just found out something odd about Harry," Severus replied.

"Oh? And what was that?"

Severus hesitated for a split second. "Harry's a Parselmouth," he said.

The twinkle in Albus's eyes disappeared and was replaced by a look of shock. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, he spoke with a viper as if she was an old friend," Severus replied. "And the only time I have ever heard anyone speak Parseltongue was when You-Know-Who was still alive." He absolutely hated mentioning the Dark Lord's name because it brought back many awful memories.

Albus frowned. "This is most odd," he said finally. "As far as I know, Voldemort," Severus flinched, "is the only Parselmouth known and yet if Harry has this ability then it adds to one of my theories."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "What are these theories?" he asked.

Albus was silent for a long moment. "When Harry destroyed Voldemort," again Severus winced, "a part of Voldemort may have gotten into him."

"I doubt that," Severus said with a sneer.

"It is merely a theory."

Severus nodded. "Also Malfoy knows about it," he said.

"How?"

"Harry was quite excited about it when he told me about the viper he became friends with. There's another thing, as well, Harry remembers part of what happened three years ago," Severus said softly.

Albus's eyes went wide. "How is that possible? He was nothing more than a baby," he protested.

"Yes but he described what happened and it scared him."

"He must have a vivid memory then."

Severus scowled. "I would prefer it if he didn't remember what happened that horrible day," he growled, his anger masking the pain, sadness and guilt he always felt whenever that day was mentioned.

"Are you starting to care for the boy?"

Severus sneered but didn't reply.

"I will take that as a yes."

Severus glared at the Headmaster but the old wizard merely smiled, the twinkle back in his eyes. "I will bid you good day, Severus," he said. "The rest of the Order know about you taking care of Harry by the way and the Ministry of Magic still isn't happy

"Yes, it makes sense that the Ministry doesn't like having a former Death Eater guardian the Boy-Who-Lived," Severus sneered.

Albus smiled faintly. "I must get back to the school. Shall I see you there in late August?" he asked.

Severus nodded. "I already have my plans prepared but it's going to be a bit harder with Harry," he said.

"He is welcomed at Hogwarts anytime and Madame Pomfrey, Minerva and the others will help you watch him while you're in class," Albus said.

Severus nodded before watching as Albus nodded and, saying his goodbyes, stepped into the floo before whispering Hogwarts and disappearing into the green fire.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: this was a short chapter but I still hope you like it and, warning ahead of time, sorry about the long author's note

Darth: yeah it was awesome

Severus: (sipping tea) yup

Blaze: tea?

Severus: yup (eats a twinkie) these things are good

Harry: awesome

Voldemort: (pops up out of nowhere)

Harry: (scowls and pulls out Mace's lightsaber)

Voldemort: Severus, help me now!

Severus: (steals Obi-Wan's and Ahsoka's lightsaber)

Harry: (takes Anakin's lightsaber)

Mace, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka: HEY!

Voldemort: ah, I'm going to run now (tries to run but ends up running into Anakin)

Anakin: good god, you're as ugly as Palpypie (reaches for lightsaber but sees Harry has it) HEY! THAT'S MINE!

Harry: ah, it was just lying on this table here

Anakin: So what's where I left it?

Obi-Wan: (opens mouth)

Anakin: ANOTHER LECTURE, RUN! (Takes off running)

Everyone else: (Also takes off running)

Obi-Wan: that's mean

Blaze: (laughs) please review and I will post chapter 7 as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it will be anytime soon and thank you to everyone who helped me get over fifty reviews.