Authors Note- so this one is strange-but in my opinion needed. Hopefully you see it in the same light. Please don't judge to harshly.

Hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 18

It had been three days since my encounter with Theo, and he had yet to confront me. Therefore, when I received a letter by floo addressed to me, I was a little put out. I quickly unfolded the crisp parchment and smiled at the spidery penmanship that all Slytherins seemed to possess. I wonder if it was something that was taught at a young age. I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

Potter,

A few days ago, you said some very interesting things to me, and expressed that if I wished to discuss the issue more then I was to contact you, and set up a meeting. Some of the things I wish to speak of are not for faint ears, but I have an eerie sense that you are a loyal and trustworthy individual. I hope that you try to overcome our past differences, as I shall try as well. You said that if I wished, we could meet in your personal chambers, if the offer is still open, I would like to accept.

Theodore Nott.

I stared at the formal letter in bemusement. "Wow." I murmured quietly.

"What's that?" Severus asked me, coming through the Portrait hole, indicating at the letter in my hands.

"Well, a couple days ago I ran into Nott, and we talked. Then I said if he wanted we could talk more, and he…he wrote me the most formal letter I have ever read. It's fit to be a letter saying 'oh, im sorry but my mum died, come to the funeral?"

Severus laughed and sat down, pulling me into his arms, scanning the letter swiftly.

"Are you going to write him back?" he inquired when he finished.

I nodded. "Yes, but I'm thinking…should I invite everyone? Drake, Blaise, Theo, Seamus, Thomas, Neville, and Luna? I don't want him to feel uncomfortable…but I like him, and I think he would make a good friend."

Severus chuckled. "That he would be. Theodore makes a nasty enemy, but a very loyal friend. I think he will be fine. Do you plan to invite Mr. Warrick as well?"

I grinned. "Of course. My little snake is always welcome here." I stated firmly.

"Your little snake?"

I nodded with enthusiasm, "Yep."

Severus shook his head bemused, and stood. "Right, well I must start on grading papers."

I perked up. "Want any help? I could grade the first-third easy. Then you'll be done faster."

Severus gave me a skeptical look, then shrugged. "Sure."

Once in Severus' class room I conjured a comfy chair and sat.

"What year?"

I shrugged. "First through third. I'll leave the hard essays to you."

Severus handed me the indicated parchment, and we both fell silent as we began to read and mark.

I brought my quill and dipped it in the red ink, writing helpful notes, and correcting information, so that they will know what went wrong.

I got to Brendon's Essay and smiled at the handwriting. Spidery perfection.

It was a very good paper. I only made a couple corrections, and gave him a small note on how good it was, then gave him an E for excellent.

It was well into the night before I finished grading essays. I stood and stretched, flexing my muscles, relishing in the popping of my joints as I got circulation back into my body.

I glanced at Severus who was still marking. I walked up behind him and read over his shoulder. I snorted when I saw that it was Ron's paper, and his reasoning on the uses of crushed and powdered salamander eyes.

I grabbed my quill and circled a whole paragraph and put and X through it, then scribbled on the side that he was an idiot, and that his reasons were backwards, and mostly incorrect. Severus leaned back and watched me. I could feel his amusement and exhaustion flowing around me and smiled. I used a lot of red on the rest of Ron's paper. "I didn't realize he was so…stupid."

Severus laughed.

"How many left?" I asked.

I just have the rest of the Gryffindor 7th years."

I nodded taking half of the stack and sitting back down.

Seamus…oh Merlin…his paper was hideous. I underlined and commented, putting little helpers here and there, and by the time I was done the entire thing was red.

Severus got up, finally finished and stood over my shoulder as I was writing one last little tip for him.

"Have you done this for every paper?" he asked me in astonishment. I nodded absently as I went to the next essay. Neville's essay. It was just as bad-if not worse.

I blew out a breath. "Okay, these two really need help."

Thomas's paper was decent and I gave him a good mark.

Finally I was on Hermione's, the last one. I let my eyes skim over it searching for mistakes. I let out a sound of triumph when I found one, and scribbled a correction. "I get what you mean when you say she writes more than she needs." I commented lightly.

Severus grunted and grabbed the essay, and my quill and put an E on it.

"I stopped reading her papers long ago. If I wanted to read a text book I would go to the library. Her answers are always book oriented. She never puts things in simple statements."

I nodded.

"Lets go to bed."

Severus offered his hand and I took it readily. A big yawn escaped me and then I cursed slightly under my breath. "Shit, I forgot to owl Nott back."

"Do it later, its late."

"Yeah, I suppose."

We walked in silence for a while, not speaking until we were safely in our rooms, and getting ready for bed. "Thank you Harry, for helping."

I gave him a smile. "No, I liked it. it was soothing."

I crawled into bed and lay my head on Severus' chest and promptly fell asleep.

The next morning I woke early and showered before setting out parchment to write Theo back.

` Theo,

Hey, I just wanted to say yes, of course, you are welcome in my chambers, Severus and I would be happy to have you. If you want to come by during lunch, and eat with me, I was having some friends-Draco, Blaise, Luna, Thomas, Seamus, Neville and Brendon over as well. I think you will find that these people are the most trustworthy in all of Hogwarts-trust me I know. I've met everyone. In addition, Severus of course will be here. Don't be shy.

See you at lunch!

Harry.

I stared down at my chicken-scratch handwriting and felt a little self-conscious. It was so sloppy compared to his perfect script. 'oh well.' I thought. Its not like I can help it.

I glanced around and realized I had no way to send it.

Severus chose that moment to exit the bedroom, towel-drying his hair.

"You're up early." He commented.

I shrugged. "Needed to write the letter. Though I have just realized I don't have a way to get it to him…oh!" I jumped up and ran out of the portrait hole-directly to the elder Slytherin.

"Salazar!" I said slightly out of breath.

"Hm? Oh Harry! What a nice surprise. Though it is a bit early." He greeted.

I nodded. "Yes, I was wondering if there was anyway that I can find a snake?"

He looked at me oddly. "Well have you tried to use a summon?"

"Um, no. how do I do that? I just need one."

Salazar nodded. "Just call in Parseltonge through your Magic, and let it flow freely throught the school."

I nodded, "Okay. I'll try that. Thank-you. you have no idea…"

He smiled, "No problem. Try it. There will be more snakes in the dungeons than in the rest of the castle."

I took a deep breath and searched myself to my Magical Core. I found a tendril and released it. "Find one worthy." I ordered my Magic in Parseltongue.

I felt my Magic burst away from me, I could feel it fill the hall and sighed. "Wow."

"Very good-"

The portrait opened and a girl whose name I forget came out. She wasn't my favorite. She cast me a suspicious look then tossed her nose in the air and walked past without a word.

I smiled then looked at my watch. "Oh, damn! I have to go! Thank you so much Salazar!" I said as I quickly made my way back to my chambers, just catching Severus as he walked out.

I sighed in relief. Kissing him soundly. "Thought I'd miss you. Have a good day in classes. I might pop in later. Is that okay?"

Severus nodded and kissed my forehead.

I watched him walk away and walked back into the room.

Not ten minutes later the portrait opened, but no one was there. Instead a Black Cobra, or Naja Melanoleuca slithered through the hole.

"Hello." I greeted it.

"You call, Sson of Earth." It hissed.

"Yess. I was wondering if you wanted a true home?" I asked it friendly.

The snake slithered closer, he was beautiful. Black with yellow strips on its belly. He looked vicious and dangerous. And he was. His venom was deadly, and the antidote to it was very hard to brew.

"With Massster?"

I nodded. "Yess."

The snake slithered onto the couch and seemed to stare into my soul.

"Nybbas will ssserve you." He vowed.

I smiled and reached out to touch his beautiful scales. He let me, and he was soft and strong.

"Nybbas will you allow me to cast a protection charm on you, so no one may hurt you?"

I asked him carefully.

The snake considered, "Yess."

I let my Magic wrap around him protectively and he hissed.

"What can Nybbas do for Masster?"

"Can you deliver a message to someone for me?"

The snake hissed in affirmation, so I Magically placed the letter on his neck, charmed to stay on him, until delivered.

And then he was gone. I sighed whistfully. I hope Severus doesn't mind my new friend…

**The Great Hall**Theo's Pov**

It was breakfast and most owls had come and gone. I fiddled with my fork and sighed. Harry hadn't written back. I wanted to slap myself for my own stupidity.

"AAAHHHH!"

I looked up at the scream of one of the Patil twins, and saw a massive Black Cobra slithering into the Hall.

It was coming toward the Slytherin table at a swift pace.

Dumbledore cast a freezing charm on it, to momentarily stun it, but it continued on as if nothing had occurred.

It slid onto the table and was headed in my direction. It bypassed many screaming girls and awing, fascinated boys. It hissed dangerously when someone reached out to touch it.

He quickly pulled his hand away in fear.

The brilliant creature stopped in front of me, and that was when I saw the shrunken letter on its back. I leaned in-aware of the deadly beast-and read the sloppy name. Theo.

My name. I shakily grabbed the letter and pocketed it just as Snape and Dumbledore reached the table. Dumbledore was casting Magic on it left and right, but it never heeded it.

As soon as the letter was detached it slithered away, and out of the Hall.

I pulled the letter from my pocket. Theo.

I broke the seal, and read the contents.

-end Chapter-

ok, so I know it was weird, but I really couldn't figure out how to work everything into this one….i hope you still liked it. I know the snake convo was a little cheesy but I guess it was necessary. Please Review and share your thoughts.

Cookies for the readers,

aKu-senSei