Parseltongue

Chapter 14 How Many Obliviators Does it Take?

It was a cute little thing. Soft looking long white fur with a black button nose. It stopped about a meter and a quarter from Harry and with a lot of bowing it began to speak. The hisses were clearly parsltongue but the chirping and clicking were incompressible to the boy. From what little Harry could pick up the little guy was thanking him for saving its cub's life. Harry hissed back, "I'm happy I could help your cub little one. Can you tell me why you are here?"

"We --- homage to ---- greatness ------. We live -- serve. ------ ---- me how we --- serve you ------."

Well that was about as clear as muddy water. Harry tried again, "Can you speak with only the snake talk little one. I do not understand all of what you say."

"I try maser."

'Maser? What's a maser?...Master!' Oh hell, this little guy thought he was its master! Damn. Harry crouched down so that the little guy wasn't almost falling over backward trying to look in his face "Little one, I'm not your master. Why do you call me that?"

Harry could just see the little one trying to process exactly what Harry had just told it and he knew the instant that it finally did too. He knew because the eyes filled with tears, the thing dropped to its knees, its head hit the ground and it started to wail "Maser hates ------ Root. ------ Root ------die. So unworthy, so ---."

"Shhh, shhh little one, don't cry. I'm sorry I upset you, please don't cry." Oh right, parseltonge. Harry repeated himself in the snake language as he slowly moved forward to the little creature. Hands tentatively reached out and he stroked the soft fur trying to comfort the distraught little creature. The creature latched onto his finger and soon Harry found himself scooping the little one up and cradling it close as he petted it much like one would a cat. It didn't take long before the thing was soothed and even began to purr like a cat would. "Are you o.k. now, little one?" he asked it softly.

The little one knuckled his eyes wiping away the tears before he nodded and asked "You like Orng Root?"

"Orng Root? Is that your name, little one?" At the solemn nod Harry smiled, "Yes, I like you."

Something poked Harry in the back and without even thinking his hand whipped around and grabbed yanking whatever it was forward. Kingsley, with a surprised yelp, ended up on his back in front of and to the side of Harry. The little creature in his arms narrowed his eyes as he glared at the auror with something approaching hatred. He hissed and at the same time he hissed, and Harry heard many answering hisses.Looking forward he was shocked to see what must have been several hundred of the little white creatures all glaring and hissing at Kingsley. They had their muzzles thrust forward and their teeth bared. Lips were drawn back and fangs exposed. Some had golden drops of liquid hanging from the ends of their fangs. Oh hell, this did not look too good.

"Kingsley, don't move!" Harry spoke softly but there was no mistaking the urgency in his voice.

Kingsley swallowed and spoke just as softly, "Wasn't thinking about doing anything more than lay here and imitate a statue. Think you can calm those things down a bit?"

Harry planted a big smile on his face and looked down at Orng Root, "The man is my friend." He hissed. He walked slowly over to Kingsley and held out a hand to help the man up. "Smile," he told him as Kingsley reached up and grabbed his hand. With a quick yank Harry pulled the grinning Kingsley back to his feet. "Orng Root, I want you to meet my friend Kingsley. Kingsley this is Orng Root." Harry a bit nervous to be sure; glanced around at the other creatures milling around in the backyard. He had to make sure he did this just right or he and the wizards with him could be in a lot of trouble. He was more fearful for the lives of the aurors than he was for himself, because whatever else was going on the little ones didn't seem hostile to him…at least.

Harry looked down at Orng Root and asked slowly hoping the little guy would understand him. "Who is your leader, little one. Is he here?"

Orng Root furled his brow as he thought about what god had asked him. It took a moment before his face cleared and he answered. "Whoever maser wishes ---------be the leader. We live -- serve you maser."

Harry sighed; they were back to that master crap once again. Oh well for the moment he would accept it if it kept the aurors safe. "Can you tell the others that these men are my friends and should not be harmed?"

Orng Root pulled himself to his feet and stood tall and proud on Harry's hand. His chest puffed out and he started to shout to the other white creatures that had assembled around the humans. Harry couldn't understand but maybe one word in five so he could only hope that whatever Orng Root was saying was going to do the job of keeping everyone from harm. When he was finished speaking his peace he wore a proud grin on his face and he informed Harry in a softer voice. "Orng Root has told the Peoples ---- lesser masers are friends of --- and must be ---------. They will be kept safe."

Harry smiled, pleased with the results but now onto business. "Orng Root, can you tell me why the um peoples have changed my families home like this? Perhaps you can show me around a little bit and explain everything I will need to know about your people so I don't ummm; say or do something wrong." He hoped he had phrased that right. One of the last things he needed right now was the little guy going all hysterical on him again or an even worse once again deciding the humans were potential enemies. After all, two of their bites were fatal.

"Orng Root is proud to show maser temple / house. Peoples is -----finished making -- ------ for maser."

'Temple/house?' It could wait for now. "Thank you Orng Root." Looking back at his body guard Harry advised them to stick close to him "Oh, and don't step on any of the little ones, I don't think they would like that."

As the tour progressed Harry had to admit these little things were good, very good. The house looked nothing like it did before they had got ahold of it, and some of the changes were very clever although he was very sure the Dursleys would not approve. The staircase itself was now a work of art. Of course there was the bad along with the good and the bad was very, very bad.

All of the windows were gone from the front of the house replaced with wide picture windows that opened up to a vista of police cars, reporters, television crews, neighbors, fire trucks, hanger-ons and assorted miscellaneous people, pets, and whatever else that could fit in-between the street in front of number 4 Privet Drive and the houses across the street. Shelby, after seeing the mess out front had quietly collapsed into hysterics. LaRay on the other hand seemed to be stuck in some type of weird loop which consisted of grabbing onto whichever human got close to him and asking "Oh my God, what are we gonna do about this?" David and Kingsley had moved away from the window and were talking urgently in low voices. Morgan, on the other hand seemed content to just inform everyone present that now that the dementors were gone Azkaban wasn't too bad then went back to study those outside. Duncan and Harry were obviously both long gone. One would start a sentence and soon both would collapse into helpless laughter. Their common theme seemed to be about how many obliviators it would take to clean up themess.

After the humans more or less got themselves back under control they decided (Kingsley and David) that a trip to the ministry might not be such a bad idea. After all, from the prospective of the seven the only ones that didn't know about the magic world now were those few humans that didn't read, hear or see any type of mass media so it just somehow seemed fair that the ministry be informed that the 'Shit Had Just Hit The Fan' in a major way.

Harry said goodbye to Orng Root and told him that he would be visiting again soon before he retuned the portkey he had to the ministry atrium. The six body guards grabbed hold and they were off; only to fall in a big heap on the floor much to the amusement of the onlookers.

Harry untangled himself from the human pile and as he stood and dusted himself, off he was heard to mutter, "Haven't done that in a long time." Reaching out a hand he started to help his bodyguard up before they were interrupted by the auror trainee on duty.

"Kingsley, what's going on here?" Alicia Spinnet demanded to know as she helped the others to their feet.

"It's a long story, Ms. Spinnet. Is Director Bones in her office? We need to have a meeting as soon as possible."

"I think so, although I don't know if she's busy or not. Do you want me to find out for you?"

Kingsley gave the girl a kind smile before he shook his head no. "We'll just go on up. If she's busy, then she'll just have to rearrange her schedule to make time for us."

On the way past Harry gave the girl a quick one armed hug before he whispered in her ear, "Tell the twins I'll want to see them soon and don't forget you promise about the wedding."

"As if you'd let me. Lands End and I'll be seeing George tonight." She whispered, back returning the hug.

After a crowded lift ride, the group got out and made their way to Madam Bones's office. She was a bit surprised at the company but being use to thinking on her feet she didn't let it faze her to much. Conjuring several chairs, she motioned the others to seat themselves. "Now, gentlemen, to what do I owe the honor of your company this afternoon?"

Kingsley gave a big sigh before he started the explanations. "Amelia, you know that we," he motioned to the other five bodyguards, "were given the assignment of guarding Mr. Potter once we found out that something seemed to be targeting him. Well, what we found out is that some type of little creatures are, or should I say were, hunting him. These creatures chased his muggle family out of their home the other day and have since; I guess you could say redecorated…their family home. In doing so they have caught the interest of the muggle press."

Harry interrupted him at that point, "Press, police, fire department and Merlin knows who else."

Kingsley held up his hand stopping Harry. "As Mr. Potter has said, Amelia, it's bad, very bad. I don't know if it's even possible to contain the damage done this time but I suspect that it isn't. Our secrecy has been completely compromised." He gave a lengthy pause before he continued. "So, now what?"

Madam Bones face had gotten quite pale as she listened to the two speak. Closing her eyes she said a brief prayer for strength before she stood up. "I need to speak to the minister about this. Please remain here in my office. I'm sure he will want to speak to all of you soon."

"Madam Bones, would it be ok if we get my family settled someplace else first? Right now, they are staying at the Leaky Cauldron but when word of what's been going on gets out they won't be left alone there. I would like to send them to Lands End to stay for now. It won't take but a few minutes then we would come right back. Please, it's not fair to them to leave them where they are. They are victims here, and I don't want them to suffer any more than they have."

She gave a quick jerky nod. "Just be back here in one hour. You may use my floo."

It only took moments for the group to floo back to the Leaky Cauldron and within half an hour the three Dursleys were on their way to Lands End with a letter of introduction to Severus Snape. Another fifteen minutes and Madam Malkin had been supplied with a portkey and instructions to supply the three muggles with complete wardrobes in a muggle style and to bill it to Harry's account. Dobby was sent off to make up rooms for Harry's new guests and the seven were back within the hour allotted.

LaRay had not stopped laughing the whole time and when questioned his only response was, "Mrs. Malfoy, Professor Snape, and three muggles in the same house."