Disclaimer: My name is not J. K. Rowling. I don't own Harry Potter and I never will. I don't own Naruto either.

"Parseltongue"

"Normal speech"

'Thought speech'

Flashback

"Parseltongue in Flashback"

AN: Thankies! Reviews make me feel better and write much faster!

Chapter 6

Sunlight was bright on Harry's face. He tried to bury himself into the bed and under the covers to escape the evil light but it kept finding a way under his eyelids. He groaned and finally gave up and opened his eyes. The room was very bright, almost fluorescent.

He frowned. 'Where is everyone?' He got up and went to the wardrobe and tried to open it. It refused to open. He pulled as hard as he could and fell backwards when it still wouldn't budge. He gave it up and left the bedroom. The hall was very dark. 'I thought it was morning? Huh, I guess there's just no windows.'

He started down the hall toward where the dining room was. When he opened the door, he frowned again in confusion. It was empty. There was no bowl of fruit, no cutlery on the table, no nothing. He tried calling Boppy but no pop answered his call. Now Harry was getting nervous. Why was everyone gone?

He ran out of the dining room and back to the bedroom and gasped. The sight that met him was totally different from what he had left. The wonderful velvety bed with plush pillows and long hangings was gone; in it's place was a small cot with a lumpy thread-bare mattress. The silk throw rugs and lavish paintings were replaced with worn and patchy mats and a dirty and chipped picture. In the place of the antique dresser and golden mirror was a crooked table with a drawer and a cracked opaque mirror. And the wardrobe was gone altogether.

Harry stood there in complete shock. 'Everything is gone. Gone. What's going on?' He backed away, to horrified to even step in side. As he backed up, his back was met with something soft. Slowly turning, he was meet with the sight of a pluggy face with small piggy eyes.

"Uncle Vernon…" Harry breathed, unable to think of anything as he faced his uncle. He slowly tried to back away from him and yelped when Vernon's hand suddenly shot out like lightning and wrapped around his wrist, preventing him from escaping. He whimpered when the hand tightened on his wrist; first cutting off his circulation and then slowly crushing it. Vernon's face split in an almost demonic grin when he heard the nearly inaudible sound of pain coming from his nephew.

"What's wrong boy? Are you afraid?" Vernon cooed, his face twisting into something unnatural. Harry only whimpered, frighten out of his wits from both his uncle and his uncle's tone. Whenever he sounded like that, he did bad things. Harry hated them more than the beatings. He could never escape; they only happened sometimes when Aunt Petunia and Dudley were gone for the night. Vernon whispered things he didn't understand and fondled him while doing something with his other hand in his pants. Vernon even touched him down there once. He shuddered and tried to squirm away before Vernon tried to do that but froze when he snarled.

"Don't you dare! You're not allowed to move. If you move I'll make you regret it!" Vernon sneered and roughly pulled the petrified Harry closer. "This is punishment for your freakishness. This is all your good for."

Those words broke Harry out of his terror induced stupor.

"I'm not!" he cried as he jerked his wrist out of the surprised Vernon's grip. "It's not freakishness! I have magic!"

The moment those words left his mouth, Vernon roared, lifted his fist. As the fist slowly moved toward his head, he heard something strange.

"Harry."

"Harry!"

"HARRY!"

Harry jerked up in his bed, gasping. 'It was a nightmare. Nothing more. Just a nightmare.' He tried to calm himself with those thought but memories came to mind unbidden. Memories when what Vernon did weren't so easy to forget. He shuddered and jumped when he felt something nudge his hand. He looked down and relaxed when he saw it was only Neko. 'Neko?'

He blinked and a rush of memories came back to him and he remember last night's events. He softly asked, "Neko, was it you who woke me up?" Neko gave a sad-sounding mew and answered.

"Yes it was. You were whimpering and tossing around in your sleep. I though you were having a bad dream, so I woke you. Are you alright?" she asked anxiously. Harry froze for a second before immediately covering it up and answering.

"Yes, I'm fine. It wasn't that bad of a nightmare." He lied easily, not meeting her eyes. "I hardly remember what it was now. Don't worry." When he saw that she was about to protest he quickly changed the subject. "Are you going to stay with me now? I really missed you and I don't want to lose you."

Neko's heart soared with happiness at his word and immediately reassured him. "Of course I'm going to stay. Why wouldn't I? I would never leave you willingly." Harry smiled and then stretched, climbing out of the bed. He padded over to the wardrobe and mentally sighed in relief when it opened easily. 'Only a dream.'

"Umm… Neko? How come you can speak parsul-persul-perselton-" Harry nearly bit his tongue trying to pronounce the word.

"Parseltongue."

"Yeah that. How can you speak it when you're a cat?" He had been wondering that in the back of his mind ever since he was reunited with her the night before.

"I can speak the human-tongue when as a cat as well." She replied almost indignantly. "I just choose not to. I find parseltongue to be more… I don't know, more familiar or comfortable I guess. Why? Do you not like my speaking in parseltongue? Because if you want, I can continue to speak in human-tongue."

"No, that's okay. I like it when you speak in parseltongue. That way, no one else but Tom and Nagini can understand us; it's like having a made-up secret language!" Harry chirped enthusiastically. Neko just mew-chuckled and waited by the bathroom door while Harry could be heard bouncing around and brushing his teeth. When he finally came out, he blinked when he saw her pad softly inside and kick the door shut. He busied himself by trying to unsuccessfully get his hair to lie flat on his while he waited for her. Once she was out, they headed for the dining room.

Harry was once again thought of his dream when he nervously entered. He relaxed when he saw nothing was out of the ordinary. Tom was at the head of the table drinking fresh vanilla-bean coffee and reading a newspaper. Beside him was a glass of orange juice and a steaming plate of eggs, sausages, and two pancakes with sweet syrup and butter on top. The smell made Harry's mouth water and he cautiously sat down in the seat next to Tom. He flinched when Tom suddenly reached out from behind the newspaper to set the glass of orange juice and plate in front of Harry. The newspaper rustled as Tom lowered it, frowning. When Harry had flinched, he a wave of fear had hit him. 'I haven't done anything to scare Harry so why is he afraid?'

"Is something wrong Harry?" Tom tried to ask.

"No- it's nothing. You just startled me." Harry lied unconvincingly. Tom let it go since Harry seemed unwilling to share.

"Eat. We're going out today. You'll need your strength." Tom said as he raised the papers again. Harry bent down and picked up Neko and set her on the chair next to him. he softly but firmly called for Boppy.

Pop!

"How may Boppy serve Young Master Harry?" she asked the moment she caught sight of him.

"Could you get a saucer of milk and another plate of sausages and eggs for Neko? And you don't have to keep calling me Young Master Harry; Harry is fine."

"Oh noes, I could never!" she said sounding almost scandalized. "I will get the food right away!" And with that, she poped away to return seconds later with the saucer of milk and warm plate of food.

"Will that be all sirs?" she asked.

"Thank you Boppy. I think that's it." Harry chirped as he returned to his food, satisfied that Neko was attacking her food like a lion on pork chops. She left with a bow and a loft pop.

As Harry started to devour the food while it was still hot, he glanced up at Tom who was still reading the newspaper. He was in the middle of taking a bite out of a sausage when he noticed one of the people in a picture was moving. He stopped and stared. Tom sensing he was being watched lowered the newspaper once more to behold a sight that had him laughing. Harry was wide-eyed and staring at the newspaper with a sausage sticking out of his mouth and a forkful of eggs in one hand while the other held his orange juice. Harry blushed and bit his sausage in half and chewed rapidly; he was dying to ask how and why the little man was moving. Tom's chuckles died down to a few huffs and decided to start answer to the question in Harry's eyes before he choked on his sausage.

"I see you're wondering about the pictures in the newspaper." He said amusedly. Harry hastily and slowed him frantic chewing. The sausage was really good but very chewy. "Well, while wizards do have cameras that take photos just like muggles, we use special potions and spells to animate the images. It is similar to the muggle television; only there is no sound."

"Wow. That's really amazing. Are photos the only things that can move?" Harry asked in wonder.

"No, they are not. Drawings can be spelled to move; or if they have special ink. The best example of this type of thing is paintings. Paintings can be animated to allow conscious thought within the frame. The subjects of the painting can think for themselves, observe their surroundings or even be the door to a place. For example, if a person were to painted into a portrait, he or she would be able to converse with you and I if we were in front of it." Tom patiently explained in his "teaching mode." He really enjoyed sharing his knowledge. The way Harry paid the utmost attention and hung on to your every word, it made the experience feel very rewarding.

"Do they use a spell on the painting? Or is it in the paint? Are all paintings like that? How come I haven't seen any here?" Harry questioned in a rapid-fire way.

Tom just smiled and answered, "No. Yes. Yes. Because they are elsewhere in the manor." Harry blinked and screwed up his face while matching each answer to his question. It made the little boy look adorable and neither Tom nor Neko could resist sniggering to themselves.

"So, can I see one?" Harry finally asked, curiosity not yet abated.

"Later, when we get back. Right now, you need to finish your breakfast. We are going to go somewhere special when you're done." Tom said indulgingly.

"Special? Where? I'm almost done. What about you? You haven't eaten." Harry protested all the while shoving the rest of the food on his plate into his mouth. "Ish Nawene an nego gwin wif gus? Wer ish ze eniwey?"

Tom blinked and asked half disgusted half amused, "Say that again without your mouth full." Harry chewed quickly and swallowed before repeating his questions.

"Is Nagini and Neko going with us? Where is she anywhere?" He gave a quick look at Neko who had long since finished her plate of food and was leisurely lapping up her milk.

"I assume you are talking about Nagini since Neko is right here?" At Harry's nod he continued. "She is napping on my bed. As it is colder, she tends to sleep more and occasionally even hibernates. She stated that she much rather sleep on the bed with warming charms than trapeze all over in the cold. If Neko wishes to join us she may but only if she keeps out of sight." They looked down at Neko who meowed in response and nodded.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked as they got up and headed out of the dining room toward an direction he hadn't gone before.

"We are going to Diagon Alley. It is one of the most magical areas in London. If I am going to let you stay here you must learn to control and utilize your magic. We can not let it run amok. We need to get some things for you such as personal robes, potion supplies, and a wand."

"A wand?! Really?!" Harry squealed excitedly. They stepped into a large room devoid of everything except a huge fireplace and a stand with a pot of funny powder.

"Yes a wand. But first we need to disguise you." He quickly continued when he say Harry start to ask why. "I wouldn't for you to get hurt from someone who didn't like your family, hmm?" He then muttered something Harry couldn't hear under his breath and pointed at Harry.

Harry felt a light tingling sensation and looked down only for his eyes to widen. His previously pale skin was lightly tanned. When he felt his face, he felt a distinctively arched nose, delicate brows, and thin lips. When he looked up, he appearance must have satisfied Tom's standards because he made a soft hum of approval and began speaking.

"I am going to apparate you and Neko with me. It won't be present; in fact it will feel like being squeezed through a tight tube. So hold on and do not fight me." With Harry's somewhat hesitant nod, he bent over and hugged Harry and Neko.

Harry squeaked when he felt the weird and unpleasant sensation Tom described. He shut his eyes and held on with all his might. It was over in seconds.

"You can open you eyes now." Tom's amused voice filtered over the noise that had suddenly assaulted Harry's senses. When he opened his eyes, he gaped in shock.

"Wow!" Diagon Alley was nothing like he had ever imagined. He was going to have fun with Tom and Neko!

To be continued…

AN: Sorry everyone for taking so long. I really didn't feel well for a while there. I cough and sneezed myself nearly to death while trying to write this before giving up until I got better. Well I am posting this now (It's almost 12:20).

Please review! They helped me to write even when sick!

Thank you for reviewing Chapter 5!

Review Thanks To:

potteraddict1210, Fullmetal LVR, Tiffany Kleinhans, BatteredChild, puffin, Katsheswims, Poisonbelle, Wynter Rayne, Kemowitch92, TuxedoKamenLuver, Meikouhaikitsune, InzanityRulz, VoicesInTheWalls

Anon Reviews:

InzanityRulz: Thanks. I should update again soon.

Meikouhaikitsune: Thank you. P.S. I still cant get bunny or Mr. Bunny on my profile page. Help?

Mr. Bunny says thanks for reading and stay tuned for Chapter 6. It is currently 12:25 a.m. on May 1, 2008.

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IMPORTANT! I posted a picture of Neko on my Deviantart. My homepage is the link to my Deviantart account. Tell me if you like it! And if any of you wish to draw/paint/or anything her, I would love to see your rendition of Neko!