Is Harry going to get a snake?

Yes, Harry probably is going to get a snake eventually but not any time soon.

Are there going to be any pairings in this story?

I feel there are many stories that are better off without romance, so I'm not going to try. Plus, I probably couldn't write it even if I did try.

If Fawkes stayed with Harry, does that mean Godric and the others forgave him after he killed himself? And if Harry is the heir of Hogwarts why didn't the wards want to let him enter?

It means that within a thousand years there was enough doubt there for Godric's familiar to let him inside the wards. Though note that the wards that protected the school from him and other dangers were still there and would not let him in. Harry may be the heir of Hogwarts but the wards aren't Hogwarts or an extension of Hogwarts herself. They are merely protections set up individually by the founders and their main purpose was to refuse him entrance and that was enough to let them bypass any loyalties they were supposed to have towards an heir.

Will Godric remember his past?

Yes, Godric will remember…eventually.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

:Mindspeech:

-Parseltongue-

Chapter Four: Talks With Slytherins

Exiting the Headmaster's office, Draco wondered what he was going to do with the extra hour. Noticing Potter walking off, he decided to tail him to see where he was going, even if it was just to the Gryffindor common room. To his surprise, Potter led him down to the dungeons.

Suddenly, Potter's path twisted and turned, although he gave no sign that he noticed being followed. Potter cut through secret passageways and abandoned potion labs to a whole new part of the dungeons that Draco had never heard of, let alone seen.

:So, Fawkes: Harry said mentally to the phoenix perched on his shoulder, as he made his way down to the chamber, trying to lose Malfoy, though not very hard::what exactly happened after I left:

:The other founders looked for your Chamber, afraid that it might be an unknown entrance to the castle, but they never found it. They tried to get rid of Slytherin house, but Hogwarts wouldn't let them, so they tried to take over the house; it went completely out of control after you left.

Slytherin rebelled against the head of house they set, until one of your graduated Slytherins stepped in and got them under control. That started a tradition of the head of house training an apprentice to take over the house after they die. Slytherin…Well, nobody was quite sure how they chose their head of house, but it seemed to work out.

Godric left soon afterwards, leaving me to look after the castle. Helga left next and Rowena soon after her. Eventually, everybody moved on with only me to remember them: Fawkes said sadly, while Harry continued to make his way down to the Chamber, filing away the news mentally.

Harry stopped suddenly, pretending that he was taking a break. He really didn't want to go to the Chamber, it would bring back to many memories he wasn't willing to face. Already, just being in the castle, especially in this part of the dungeons, was pulling memories out of his Occlumency shields.

"So, Malfoy, why are you following me?" He asked casually, leaning against the wall; remembering the time that Godric had tried to find his way around the Dungeons, getting himself so thoroughly lost that he could barely tell up from down…Harry firmly pushed that thought away, not wanting to be caught in the other memories that it would bring.

Draco was startled when Potter addressed him, Slytherin pride bruised at having been noticed. How had Potter noticed him? Draco convinced himself that he had just been careless, not expecting a Gryffindor to notice being followed.

"I was merely wondering where you were going," Malfoy stated haughtily.

Harry shrugged, "Just wondering around." They were silent, each unwilling to be the first to speak.

"So, Potter, what are you doing in the dungeons?" Malfoy finally asked, having grown impatient.

"I could ask the same of you," Harry said with a smirk.

"I'm a Slytherin," Malfoy said, using the tone that one would use to explain something very simple to a child, "The dungeons are Slytherin territory."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Harry said, watching Malfoy quickly become frustrated.

"How did you ever make it through your classes Potter, with observation skills like that?" Harry just gave him an annoying grin and headed off in another direction. When he was safely turned away from Malfoy, he let the smile fade, while mentally berating himself. He had almost forgotten who he was speaking to, almost thought that he was annoying Godric, as he had loved to do before the argument. "Where are you going?" Malfoy asked, annoyed that Harry would just walk away from him.

"Out of here. We have," Potter checked his watch, "thirty two minutes to get back to the Entrance Hall." Draco huffed and turned to leave, but froze, realizing that he was in a completely unfamiliar part of the dungeons, and if Potter, who seemed familiar with the area, left, he might not be able to make it back for hours, possibly days. Angrily, he turned back to face Harry.

"Well, I'm not finished with you yet." He said, following Harry. Harry cursed in Parseltongue under his breath, knowing that Malfoy couldn't make it out on his own, but wishing that he would leave him alone. They walked in silence for a while.

"Well, Malfoy, you wanted to say something?" Harry asked, annoyed.

Draco sighed, knowing he would regret this for the rest of his life. There wasn't anything else he could do, anyways.

"Truce, Potter?" Draco asked; sticking out his hand. Potter stared at it for a while, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Why would I want a truce with you?"

"We're living together for a month, we can't continue arguing."

"Look, Malfoy, you've made my life miserable for five years. I don't care if we're living together, there's no way in hell I'm going to make up with you," Harry hissed angrily.

Draco was taken aback by the sudden hatred in Potter's voice. What had happened to Dumbledore's golden boy? Deep inside, he was hurt a little by Potter's words. It was illogical, they had never been friendly before, and Draco was confused at his own reaction.

"I'm sorry, you have every reason to hate me," Malfoy said, dropping his arm back to his side. With those words, Harry looked up and saw, not Godric (not even Gryffindor, as Godric had become after the argument) or Malfoy; he saw Draco, an insecure boy who needed people to care for him, much as both Salazar and Harry had been before meeting people who cared.

"No, I don't," Harry said, "I judged you too quickly, with too many prejudices," he extended his hand, "I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you."

"Draco Malfoy, you can call me Draco," Draco said, smiling and taking the offered hand.

"Only if you call me Harry," Harry said.

"Deal," Draco said, "but what are you doing in the dungeons, Harry?" Harry studied Draco for a moment, unsure if he should tell the truth. What he saw made up his mind. Draco had dropped his masks, showing, whether consciously or subconsciously, he trusted Harry enough to do it.

"I was visiting the Chamber of Secrets," Harry said, starting to head out of the dungeons.

"Oh," Draco said, blinking, "It's down here?"

"Sort of; it's somewhere under the lake, but there's an entrance down here," Harry said, not mentioning that that wasn't the one that he had used in his second year. All the school knew was that he and Ron had rescued Ginny from the Chamber.

"Why were you going there?"

"I was visiting. I mean, the last time I was there, I didn't have much of an opportunity to look around…"

"Oh." They walked in silence for a while, not uncomfortable, just thoughtful.

"What did Dumbledore mean when he said Snape had fewer responsibilities?" Harry asked, curiously.

"Well, he isn't a spy any more and Dumbledore fired Severus from his head of house duties, said he 'wasn't in touch with the students' or something like that, because he didn't think that the students would listen to Severus, now that they know he's a spy. He's afraid of a revolt." Draco spat angrily.

"What? He can't do that!" Harry switched to Parseltongue and started swearing furiously. Didn't these people learn from their mistakes? That would cause a revolt, not prevent one!

"Uh, not to be rude, or anything, but why do you care?" Draco asked, a bit confused by the sudden change in attitude.

"I know enough of Slytherin politics to know that that'll cause huge problems between Slytherin house and Dumbledore," he continued raving in Parseltongue, for a minute, "To answer your unasked question, that's Parseltongue. I use it too swear, because no one else can understand, except snakes and Voldemort." Draco stared.

"The golden boy swearing? How often does that happen?"

"More often than most people think," Harry said, taking a deep breath and hissing for another few minutes, "Okay, I think I'm done." They reached a painting of a huge, black snake.

-I'd tell you to watch your mouth, if you didn't have so many amusing things to say about the Headmaster,- the snake hissed.

-Yes, well, he deserved it,- Harry said, blushing, -Can you let us through?- The painting swung open, revealing the Entrance Hall.

"Has that always been there?" Draco asked, amazed.

"Yup," Harry said, grinning, -Thank you, I'll see you when the school year starts.- The painting swung shut behind them. He checked his watch again, "Only another minute or two."

"Potter, what are you doing with the Headmaster's phoenix?" Snape asked, coming up behind them.

Snape glanced casually at Potter's trunk, and had to stop himself from doing a double take. Hadn't it been green and decorated with snakes? Now it was just a normal brown trunk with no unusual features. Now that he thought about it, what was Potter doing with a trunk that screamed 'Slytherin'?

"Fawkes deemed it necessary to come with me and the Headmaster seemed to think it was a great idea," Harry said, scowling at the phoenix, "Stupid bird."

:I happen to be a very smart bird: Fawkes chirped offended, ruffling her feathers.

"Yeah, of course, you're the smartest bird in the world, what was I thinking?" Harry asked sarcastically, "After all, dumb birds never get into fights with their reflections."

:That was a long time ago: Fawkes chirped, sounding embarrassed.

"Not that long ago," He saw Snape and Draco staring at him, "Want to hear a story? Once upon a time, there was a phoenix who…"

:No! Shut up: Fawkes squawked angrily::Don't you dare:

"Leave me alone, then!" Harry said, angrily.

:No:

"A phoenix who was…"

:This is blackmail:

"Why of course, my overgrown chicken," Harry said, smirking evilly. Fawkes flew off his shoulder, talons digging rather hard into his shoulder.

:I still have to stay close; Dumbledore did send me to watch you: Fawkes chirped indignantly.

"Fine, fine, just leave me alone pigeon," Harry grumbled, clutching his shoulder with his free hand, "And that bloody hurt, stupid bird!" he muttered as his hand came away from the wound slightly bloody, "Sooo, are we going?" He asked the still staring Slytherins.

"Potter, what was that?" Snape asked.

"Fawkes wouldn't leave me alone, so I had to threaten h-him," he hoped they didn't notice his near slip, but it was hard to remember Fawkes was supposed to be a boy.

"Threaten him? Rather Slytherin of you," Snape commented. Harry had to laugh at that.

"If you say so," He said, still snickering. Snape obviously didn't know how to reply to that.

Dammit! Gryffindor mask on at all times! Harry's mind yelled. He should have brought them all the way back on when he talked to Draco in the dungeons or, at least, when Snape showed up. He knew that Snape would eventually report back his behavior to Dumbledore. He knew that Snape would only tell what Dumbledore needed to know, he was a Slytherin after all, but Snape, as the Head of Slytherin, would have to be very good at looking through masks.

Because of the wards Salazar had set, to last more than a year as Slytherin Head of House, you had to a) have been a Slytherin yourself, b) be loyal to Slytherin house, and c) be able to look after the Slytherins properly. Salazar was no fool; he had noticed that less than one out of a hundred abused children didn't get into Slytherin and every Slytherin was abused at home or, at least neglected. He had designed the house so that the Slytherins worked together and supported each other. No other house could support an abused child properly; just look at how Harry had turned out as a Gryffindor!

Salazar had been careful warding his dungeons. They welcomed, housed, and protected any Slytherin child. As soon as you graduated, unless chosen as the next Head of House by the wards, a subtle blend of memory charms and wards kept graduates from remembering it as anything other than a series of politics, and prevented anyone from telling another about it.

As the Head of Slytherin, Snape would have to be able to care for the other Slytherins, especially the younger ones. He would have to be able to break through masks and make sure that the Slytherins didn't keep everything bottled up.

Harry changed his laugh into less of a 'you just said something really stupid, but you don't know it' snigger to more of a 'that's so absurd its funny' laugh. Salazar had quite a lot of knowledge with different types of masks, and Harry knew that he would have to use every ounce of that knowledge he possessed to keep the Slytherin Head of House from realizing that there was a mask at all. It would be difficult, but Harry was ready for the challenge. Besides, Snape wouldn't be looking for a mask; Harry was a Gryffindor, after all.

"Me…a…Slytherin," Harry choked out between laughter, "That's…more…absurd…than," He paused a moment to think, gasping for air, "Draco being a Gryffindor." Well, actually it wasn't, but it was fun to make jokes behind their backs.

"Draco? Since when have you been on first name terms?" Snape asked, although not showing any curiosity through the calm Slytherin mask he always wore. He wasn't the Slytherin Head of House for nothing; he had noticed the subtle change but ignored it, not expecting a Gryffindor to know so much about masks.

"Since…" Harry thought about it, "for about twenty minutes? Half an hour? Actually, since it was thirty-four (or was it thirty two) minutes ago that I said that we should get back here…"

"We declared a truce," Draco answered the question, since Harry didn't seem to be doing it.

"Really?" Snape drawled somewhat incredulously.

"Yup!" Harry said; his Gryffindor mask cheerful. After all, according to his reckoning, he'd be happy to get out of Privet Drive and, even if he was with Snape and Malfoy (as his Gryffindor self would call him). Snape didn't really have very much authority over him after all; no houses to deduct points from, and no detentions, although he might have to do chores. But, hey, after doing Aunt Petunia's housework as long as he could remember, a couple of chores didn't really matter.

Snape looked at him, somewhat disgusted by the hyperactive energy that radiated from him, "We're going to walk out of the Hogwarts grounds and then apparate to my house. Do you understand that, Potter?"

"Of course, Professor, but I can't apparate," Harry said, feigning ignorance.

Draco sniggered,

"What; fail your apparation test?"

"Actually, I didn't even know that there was an apparation test…" Harry said, "I do wish they'd stop doing this; it's getting quite annoying." He did not specify as to who 'they' referred to and neither Draco nor Snape asked.

"I will be apparating all of us, Potter," Snape said, "Even Draco, as the wards surrounding my house probably won't let him in." Now that's interesting, Harry thought, you could only do a group apparation if you have very strong magical energies; at least the aura reading amount. Snape's aura looked about normal, if not a bit strong. Something must either be masking it or amplifying it.

"Really? I didn't know you could do that!" Harry exclaimed, putting on a perfect look of wide eyed surprise, although perhaps a bit childish.

Snape mentally cursed at his slip, "You are not to tell the Headmaster that bit of information, Potter."

"You mean he doesn't know?" Harry frowned as if thinking hard, "Why not?" This was an interesting turn of events. Harry now had some information that Snape didn't want the headmaster to know. He wasn't going to tell, of course, but, if he played his cards right, he could drop his masks for the rest of the summer. But did he want to? It would be almost impossible to hide behind masks near the Slytherin Head of House, but did he want Snape knowing his secrets? No, he was keeping his masks up for as long as possible, though he did plan to lower them a bit.

"Talents like that are best kept secret. They may save someone's life someday," Snape said, "Don't tell anyone, not even Granger and Weasley." It wasn't the best excuse, but Harry let it slide. He had no reason to pry, and it wouldn't do to make the Professor annoyed this early in the summer.

"Whatever," Harry said, "Lead the way, I guess." Snape frowned at the order but left the Entrance Hall, robes billowing behind him. The walk out of the grounds was silent, nobody really wanting to speak to the others. They walked across the grounds and along the path that the school carriages usually used. When they got to the gates, Snape stopped.

"You must be standing close to me, or you might get lost in the process," Snape said, his expression showing how much he would love to get rid of Harry like that. Fawkes swooped out of the sky.

:You can't leave me behind: She chirped.

"You can fire travel," Harry said, annoyed.

:Yes, but I don't know where we're going: Fawkes replied.

"Fine!" Harry snapped, "But don't hold on so tight, you're hurting my shoulder." Fawkes landed on his shoulder (his uninjured one), as unhappy as Harry was about the assignment.

"Potter, why do you pretend that you can understand the phoenix?" Snape asked, annoyed at the one sided conversation.

"Maybe I can," Harry said, shrugging.

"Impossible. Humans can't communicate with animals," Snape said. Harry had to fight down the eyebrow that he so wanted to raise, a decidedly un-Gryffindorish movement.

"I can talk to snakes."

"Parseltongue is a language. You're speaking English."

"Fawkes can understand English."

"Animals can't understand human languages,"

"How do you know?"

"There have been studies."

"Fawkes understood Professor Dumbledore's order to look after me."

"Fawkes is familiar-bound to the Headmaster." Harry fought back a laugh at that. So that was what the old fool was telling people?

"Hedwig can understand me."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Yes."

"Then you are a fool."

"Call me what you want, I stopped caring years ago."

"Why do you believe that Fawkes can understand you?"

"Because he can."

"What proof do you have?"

"Buckbeak the Hippogriff attacked Draco when Draco insulted him."

"Coincidence."

"Believe what you want, Professor," Harry said, "Are we going or not?"

"Then keep your childish illusions, Potter," Snape said, "Are you ready, Draco?" After an affirmative answer from Draco, Snape Apparated them away; the same way Harry used to get Voldemort's victims away from the meetings. Just as they were leaving, a lion roared in the distance, but it was soon drowned out by a waterfall like roaring that filled their ears as they were pulled away in a swirl of multi colored lights.

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