Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other canon characters or plots. JK Rowling does. Any characters that she doesn't own are mine, though.

Chapter 1: Retrieval

Dumbledore strode across his yard, positive that his venture would be successful. He had worked nonstop for three days, studying his map and all of his interviews with young Harry over the years, as well as every report on the deaths of every Death Eater for the past three months and of Voldemort. For three days now he had hunted for the location of his errant and most famous student, Harry Potter. He had discovered, after the first day, a pattern in the killings, and he used that to determine Harry's route. Twelve hours ago he had realized that while most people considered all of the Death Eaters dead and gone, there was one left: Lucius Malfoy. He had spent the past twelve hours trying to determine where, exactly, Malfoy Manor was. Now, he felt he had been successful. Now he thought he knew where to find the fifteen year old hero. Now he could retrieve him, and that's what he planned to do today.

Nearing his destination, he had to stop when he saw a snake lying in his path, sleeping. He couldn't recognize the species, but he saw the changing size (it was growing up to six feet, then shrinking back down as it inhaled and exhaled), and he knew that snakes were never silver, gold, green, and red. Besides, he did have a very good danger sense, and it was currently telling him to stay very far away from this snake.

Unfortunately, his planned escape was foiled when the serpent woke up and began to regard the old man. It hissed, and then used its tail to throw an amulet at him. An amulet that Dumbledore caught out of reflex and quickly discovered its amazing property.

You are the Headmaster of Hogwarts, correct? Amazed that he could suddenly understand the hissing, Dumbledore responded. Part of him noted that the snake had settled on a size: three feet long.

"Yes."

Technically, I should not let you, among others, anywhere near my master. However, considering the circumstances, I think it would be best that I disobey. He needs help, and I beg you to give it to him.

"Who is your master?" Dumbledore, already accustomed to the strangeness of the conversation, was a bit uneasy nonetheless. If this was one of Voldemort's snakes …

I will not say his name, and I have been expressly ordered to not describe him to anyone. Now, will you help my master? Dumbledore hesitated, and then nodded. Excellent. The snake began to slither away, Dumbledore following closely, ready to draw his wand at a moment's alarm. Eventually he noticed that they were nearing the place where he thought Harry was, and realized that the snake's bite would only leave two punctures almost invisible to the eye. But his train of thought was interrupted when he saw two bodies lying on the banks near the river. Both were very familiar.

"Harry!" The boy was lying on his back covered in blood, with a sword near him, blood stained. Dumbledore started towards him, only vaguely realizing that Lucius Malfoy was next to him, obviously dead, but he hesitated for a moment and turned to the snake. "How did this happen?"

My master took on the last of the Death Eaters, Lucius Malfoy. But the Death Eater had set traps for anyone who approached his home. The manor is now destroyed, as you can see. Dumbledore noticed now that rubble was lying a few yards away, the only remains of a once great mansion. But before my master destroyed the house and its master, the traps did enough damage that the Death Eater was able to put up a fight and injure my master. That was two days ago. He has not yet woken up since the battle, and those who sent him after the Death Eater do not care for his welfare. Only his owl and I worry when he confronts each Death Eater. Only his owl and I were concerned when I was unable to pierce the Dark Lord's skin and kill him, forcing my master to use his sword and fight a long battle. His owl is hunting now, but when she is not, we both have sat by our master's side, waiting in vain for him to awake. Now I realize that for him to wake, we need your help. My master will not admit it, but he wants his old life again. I need you to restore that, and his health, to him.

"I intend to," Dumbledore replied. He moved to Harry's side and looked around. The young wizard's glasses were not on his face or anywhere else to be found.

My master's vision was corrected some time ago. If you intend to move him –

"I do."

– then take the sword and my master. I shall call his owl, and she will take me to you. Go now. When I arrive, I will instruct you on how to assist him.

"Very well. Thank you, er, what is your name?"

My master calls me Misno. In your language, it means "Fang", short for Asismisno, or "Crimson Fang".

"Well, then. Thank you, Misno."

You're welcome. Now go! Dumbledore gathered Harry's things, privately amused at being ordered about by a snake familiar. He noticed then that even though he himself had seen the two hands in the cave and had seen Poppy identify them magically as Harry's hands, cut from his arms, there were two natural-looking hands attached to the boy's arms. Putting the thought away for later investigation, he turned a twig into a portkey and put it in Harry's hand, still holding it himself.

A moment later, they were at the hospital wing of Hogwarts and he was carefully setting the sword down. Fortunately, it was winter break, and no student would dare ruin his holiday by admitting to sickness or injury, so the hospital wing was empty except for the nurse.

"Ah, Poppy! Would you be so kind as to assist me?" He caught her attention and watched in amusement as she recognized the student that was her most frequent visitor. He was relieved, though, to see her ignore her shock and get straight to inspecting Harry. Once she had ascertained for herself that he was in no immediate danger, she turned to Dumbledore.

"Headmaster, I've seen strange things in my life, but this takes the cake! I thought that this boy was dead! And I know for a fact that even if he wasn't, his hands should not still be attached to him! I saw them – I know they were his! How are they here, still attached? How is he here, for that matter?" Dumbledore stopped her questions with a raised hand and a quiet chuckle.

"Poppy, if you will give me a moment, I will explain as best I can, though I must admit, even I am amazed that Harry is still alive and in one piece. But if you would set to healing him first?"

"Oh! Of course." She pulled out her wand and got to work.

"As for what happened to him, well, as far as I know, Harry was in a battle with Lucius Malfoy, the late Death Eater. Malfoy was apparently more cunning and survival-oriented than his associates, and had set traps for Harry. These injuries are the result."

"Late Death Eater?" the medi-witch repeated in obvious amazement, though her wand didn't stop. "Did Potter kill him?" He nodded.

"Along with all the other Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort," he confirmed, pleased to see her hold back the reflex flinch.

"So, Potter is the Hunter?" she asked, still amazed. At his nod, she shook her head. "And he's not yet even taken his OWLs. Why can't this boy pursue normal, safe activities? Even when he's legally dead, I still have to heal him. Albus, do you know if some particular curse has been placed on him? He ought to be awake by now. He's not magically or physically exhausted, I've healed all his wounds – the only thing I can't get rid of is this blood! I mean, I've cleaned off half of it, but the rest! What's wrong?" Turning to face the Headmaster, she caught sight of the window and screamed slightly. "What's that?" Dumbledore looked at the window and smiled a bit when he saw what had scared her. He flicked his wand at the glass and opened the window enough for the snowy owl to fly through with her passenger, which was now less than a foot long.

"They would be Harry's pets. The owl is Hedwig. I believe Hagrid purchased her for Harry's eleventh birthday. As for the snake, all I know is that it is Harry's, and his name is Misno. He is very loyal to Harry, and I believe he will be assisting us, or we him, in awaking Mr. Potter."

"And how will a ­­snake do that, Headmaster?" He handed her the amulet without letting go of it, and both of them heard Misno's reply.

I am quite capable of it, Madam. Is he completely healed? Yes, I can see he is. Thank you.

"That was – English! But – how – that's impossible!" Poppy stuttered out.

My master created the amulet that you hold, on a … whim of his, I believe. It was also a form of rebellion, I suppose, about a week after I met him. It ought to have been destroyed, but I saved it, and I keep it in my possession for moments like these.

"A moment," Dumbledore spoke up. "That's the second time you have mentioned disobeying to help Harry. Who are you disobeying? Who was Harry rebelling against?" That Harry should feel some need to rebel was disturbing, to say the least. Not to mention that he had somehow managed to create an amulet allowing anyone to understand Parseltongue.

Ignoring the questions, Misno turned to Madam Pomfrey. Enough chatter. Madam, will you step aside for a moment? As soon as the path to his master was clear, the snake slithered onto his master, curling around his wrist. Before Madam Pomfrey or Dumbledore could stop him, two gleaming white fangs sank into Harry's wrist. The adults stared in horror, then awe, as Harry's eyes slowly opened. The teenager glanced down at the snake, who was now hissing contently, wrapped firmly around his master's forearm. Then Harry took in his surroundings, and Dumbledore watched in amusement as the green eyes registered first recognition, then shock, and finally anger. He sat up and plucked Misno off his arm and hissed at him. Dumbledore picked up the amulet again, curious.

" – bringing me here?"

You never ordered me not to. ­They did, and you know, master, that I need not obey them.

"But I do! Besides, I don't want them seeing me again! You knew that very well!"

Then you should have ordered me not to let them near you, came the oh-so-innocent reply. Dumbledore grinned, his eyes twinkling at full blast.

"You mustn't blame your familiar, Harry. I had already discovered your approximate location and would have found you anyway. It is thanks to him, though, that you are awake." Harry glared at his headmaster.

"How did you – ah ha! So, Fang gave you that, huh? I thought I god rid of that months ago."

"It is fortunate that you did not," Dumbledore said mildly. "Magical items should never be carelessly left around for anyone to find. Besides, I don't think it's a good idea to ignore an invention that I'm sure would fascinate quite a few wizards. The Department of Mysteries would love it, at least. Why don't you try to market these, Harry?" He was shocked to see the teen stiffen, and began to pry. "Or is there someone you don't want aware of the continued existence of your invention? Misno mentioned that you made it partially to rebel. Who are you rebelling against, Harry?" Harry flinched slightly and glared at his familiar. He snatched the amulet out of Dumbledore's hands and began to hiss at his snake. Misno appeared to retort, sparking an argument between the two. Deprived of the translating amulet, Dumbledore was almost overcome with a desire for a natural ability to understand the hissing. Glancing at Poppy, he thought that she might just feel the same.

Finally, Harry ended the debate with his pet and stood. "It doesn't concern you, Headmaster. I appreciate your help in healing me and waking me up, both of you. But I can't stay here, sir." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.

"Why not? You are still a student here, Harry, and an underage wizard. Besides, you've killed all the Death Eaters and Voldemort. What could keep you from attending school as the law requires?" Harry smiled grimly.

"In case you forgot, sir, I'm legally dead, so I'm not a student anywhere. And who said Voldemort was the reason I've stayed away? No, Professor, like I said, it does not concern you. So long as that gravestone says I'm dead, you – and everyone else – have no claim on me." With that, Harry scooped up his unsheathed sword and stalked out of the room, his snake once again wrapped around his forearm and his sword and amulet both firmly in his grasp.