Another chapter to add to the ever growing pile of chaps I have for 'Meet the Count'. I'm so happy T.T. sniff sniff

Disclaimer- I do not in any circumstances own Petshop of Horrors or Harry Potter 'cause if I did their world would be in utter chaos that is not done by anyone from the magical world, only by my friends and me.

"………" talking

'………' thoughts

"………" Parseltongue

Chapter Four

When Harry opened the door to his room after a wonderful lunch, he saw that Hedwig had come back. Smiling at his ever faithful owl, he pulled out some of his remaining lunch and gave it to her. He placed it in front of her and took the letter off to allow her to eat in peace.

Harry then sat on the chair and Kai slid off him to study his other companion. Hedwig stooped eating long enough to stare at him for a while. She nodded her head as if to approve of him before eating again. Kai blinked before giving a snake-like shrug and curled up in the nearest patch of sun at the windowsill.

He opened the letter and read it eagerly.

Dear Mr Potter,

I will be happy to have you come to my shop tomorrow at 2 o'clock. And if you do not mind, I would like it if you also brought all your belongings with you. The property that I have located for you is close to Chinatown and can be bought tomorrow in private. Until then, you may stay with me in my pet-shop. Chinatown itself is three blocks south of where you are and four blocks east. If you get lost, Hedwig will be able to lead you the rest of the way. Until our meeting Mr Potter.

Sincerely, D

Harry blinked when he finished the letter. 'This guy's fast!' thought Harry as he pulled out his shopping and started to sort them into categories. After he finally finished he pulled out the book, The Guide to Finding Your Inner Creature by Madeline Martin. Harry read the book into the night, taking breaks only for dinner and to go to the bathroom to relieve himself and to brush his teeth before reading again until 9 at night.

The next morning found Harry leaving the Leaky Cauldron with a large tip for Tom as a thank you for letting him stay at the Leaky Cauldron despite the rather insistent protest of the inn keeper. He then followed the directions in the letter that D had sent back to him, looking around at the possible purchases that he might need. He had let Hedwig out to fly ahead of him and Kai was concealed under the sleeve of his jacket on his right arm.

The time flew by as Harry went sight-seeing around London before reaching Chinatown. Looking at his watch, Harry saw that he still had at least three hours before he had to meet D at his store. Looking up, he saw that Hedwig had landed on the roof top of a nearby store.

He then decided to look around Chinatown and have lunch there since he had never had Asian food before. Harry went around Chinatown with curiosity and wonder at all the different things sold there.

He even ended up buying an emerald green cheongsam with emerald pants, a loose forest green vest with golden frog buttons and emerald slippers from a small shop owned by an old Chinese couple. He looked around and saw a small vendor selling what looked like some sort of steamed food wrapped up in what looked like banana leaves.

Curious, Harry asked the vendor, an Asian man with black hair and black/brown eyes, what it was. The man smiled at the curious, polite British teen. "It is called 'sticky rice', in English I believe," he said in heavily accented English. "You can fill it with many different types of ingredients and it tastes best with a little soy sauce."

"Really Sir?" asked Harry curiously. "Which ones do you have here?" Harry took out his wallet that he kept when Dudley decided that it was too old when he had only just gotten it three weeks ago. "There is beef, chicken, red bean and pork," replied the man as he watched Harry closely.

Harry gave him a small smile as he took out some notes. "I'll have one with some with pork please," said Harry politely. The man nodded and placed them in a plastic bag for him. "That will be $3.50 please." Harry handed him the exact amount of money before leaving with a smile and a wave.

The man continued to look at him before smirking slightly. "Good luck kid," said the man in perfect English. "Your gonna need it when you go back." There was a flicker and emerald green eyes appeared for a split second before becoming the usual black/brown of native Asians. Then, he disappeared without anyone noticing his absence.

It was now 2 o'clock and Harry was walking down the stairs to the doors of the petshop. Hedwig flew down and perched on his shoulder as he reached the door and opened it. The scent of sweet smelling incense blew open and left Harry thinking of cakes and sweets.

A man came out of from a large double door. "Welcome to Count D's petshop," said the man with a charming smile. "Where your dreams and desires can be found behind every door. How may I help you today?" Harry blinked as he stared at the seemingly fragile man.

"Good evening sir," said Harry politely. "I am Harry Potter and you sent me a letter saying something about a residence nearby that I could buy?" The man smile grew slightly. "Ah yes, Mr Potter," said D. "Would you join me in the back for tea?"

Harry blinked before nodding. "Thank you," replied Harry politely. Harry followed D into the tea room and sat on the couch. The coffee in front of him was laden with sweets, cakes, chocolates and a small pitcher of sugar. Hedwig hopped off his shoulder and perched on the back of the couch. "I hope you don't mind having oolong tea Mr Potter," said D as he moved towards the small kitchen to get the tea set and some hot water. "Not at all sir," said Harry as he looked around him in wonder.

There were animals all over the place. Cats, dogs, birds and many others were perched every where. Harry then noticed a familiar python on the armrest when he turned his head to the left. "Hello again," hissed the python as he raised his head. "Hello nice to see you again," replied Harry quietly as he lifted his left arm to allow the python to climb on.

"What's your name?" asked the python as he climbed the proffered arm. "I forgot to ask you that five years ago." Harry started to stroke the python on the head. "My name is Harry Potter, you are?" asked Harry as the python hissed in pleasure. "I am called Alex, Harry," replied Alex as he wound himself around Harry's shoulders. "So how has life been treating you so far Harry?" asked Alex. They continued to talk and Harry didn't notice that D had come back until he had placed the steaming pot of tea and two China cups on the table. D sat on the other couch opposite of Harry calmly.

D smiled at the startled look that Harry gave him. "Not to worry Mr Potter," said D as he poured some tea into the tea cup. "I have a friend who can speak to snakes as well. A very polite and cheerful person despite his past." Harry looked at D with his piercing emerald gaze before deciding that he wasn't lying.

"Tea?" said D with a smile as he glanced at Harry. "Yes please," replied Harry as he accepted the cup. D poured himself a cup and pulled out an envelope. "This is for you Mr Potter," said D after Harry took a sip of the sugary tea. "When I told my friend that I would be having a Parseltongue in my shop, he thought that it would be alright if he gave you some information on where to find some books on Parsel spells created by Salazar Slytherin himself. And he also said that you should open it when you think it is right."

He stared wide-eyed at the letter before placing it carefully into his pocket. He looked at D in curiosity. "Sir," began Harry. "Please," said D with a smile. "Call me Count or D. Even though my grandfather was the last to hold that title." Harry nodded slowly. "Count, where is the residence that you told me about?" asked Harry as he took another sip of his tea. Alex then decided to get off Harry's arm and went off in search for his other reptilian friends.

D gave him an even more mysterious smile than before. "Why Mr Potter," murmured D as he put down his cup and a pitch black wolf with piercing emerald eyes appeared from behind the couch. A dark blue snake with an emerald tint and opal sheen around its neck. Harry suddenly felt a little light-headed. "The residence is the pet-shop."

Harry stared at D whose smile never wavered. "Read the letter when you get there Mr Potter," said D in a monotone voice. "All will be answered then. You are being given a chance to be free."

Suddenly the wolf at D's feet blurred slightly and changed. In its place stood a man dressed in dark, cool colours with piercing emerald eyes. A snake around his shoulders. Harry eyes then widened in realisation. "Remember, do not change anything Harry," said the man. As the world started to blur, one last thought went through his head. 'That's me…' thought Harry before the world went black.

D and the man watched as the space around Harry blurred together before contracting then it disappeared with a small 'pop!'. Hedwig stared at the area with slightly widened eyes. "D?" said Hedwig with a slightly worried tone. D smiled at Hedwig. "Not to worry Hedwig," murmured D as the man sat down gracefully onto the couch. "Harry is safe."

The man nodded. "It is me you're talking about after all," commented the man as he took the cup on the other side. D glanced at Harry in amusement. "Of course Harry-kun," said D, his voice and eyes full of mirth. "Or should I say 'Yami'?" Dark smiled at D as Kai slid down to greet Hedwig after thirteen years of separation.

"You know that 'Harry' had already left and that I am now 'Dark' or 'Yami' as you keep insisting on calling me," retorted Dark as he sipped the tea. D stared at the now confidant young man. Well, not exactly young since he was now in his late twenties. "Are you still going to go back to Hogwarts?" asked D as he ate a piece of chocolate with a caramel centre. Dark nodded as he drained the last of his tea and sighed happily.

"If not to cause a little chaos, then to at least give them a little look at their 'Saviour' before leaving when I kill Voldemort and discredit Dumbledore," said Dark as he poured himself some more tea. D nodded. "Have fun then," was all D said as Dark grinned. "Of course," replied Dark.

Outside the store, the streets were alive with people. And beyond that, the Order of the Phoenix was frantically looking for the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. Not knowing that they were going to finally receive the price of their betrayal…

To be continued...

finally! another chappie of 'Meet the Count' is finished. but what will happen to the Turkeys later on? that will be answered in the nxt installment of 'Meet the Count'.until then, ja ne minna-san!