Harry exited Ollivander's with an uncertain feeling of apprehension. His wand felt heavier than he thought it would. Something about the possibility it represented to him. Just outside he found Hagrid waiting for him.

"So, how'd it go?" Hagrid asked as he absentmindedly gripped his umbrella. "Y'ah always remember your first wand." Harry had a sneaking suspicion that Hagrid wand was his umbrella.

Harry pulled out his new Holly and Phoenix feather wand. "Its wonderful." Harry said still admiring it. "So can we go to the Bazar now or is it too late?" he asked trying not to sound too pathetic. A little acting wouldn't hurt. He could see the dilemma on Hagrid brow.

There was a few seconds of intense silence before Hagrid let out a rather large sigh. "Fine, let's see if Bragforth has anything that you'd like." Hagrid said leading Harry further into Diagon Alley. "But remember Harry, Knockturn Alley isn't always a friendly place. I'm gonna need you to listen to me and stick close." Hagrid had taken a knee to talk to Harry, but was still towering over him.

An older witch passing by glared at Hagrid and muttered under her breath about him taking up so much room in the alley. "I understand Hagrid." Harry said looking Hagrid in the eye. "I'll be careful."

They walked in silence through Diagon Alley as Hagrid led them to the entrance to Knockturn Alley. Had Hagrid not known where to go, Harry would have surely missed the inconspicuous side street that led into Knockturn Alley. As soon as they entered the smaller more dilapidated neighbourhood of magical London it seemed to get darker. The buildings seemed taller and closer together, allowing less light into the street.

Harry was still in awe of the commonplace of Magic. In Knockturn Alley they seemed to have different Magics on display. None of which Harry knew anything about. Before long Hagrid stopped and pointed out a unremarkable store front with a small sign. "Bragforth's Bizarre Bazar."

"Go on Arry. I'll wait outside." Hagrid said giving Harry a gentle push in the store's direction.

As soon as Harry walk in the door he knew he'd find what he was looking for here. So many weird and dangerous creature behind glass cases, and metal cages. They all seem so fascinating. "And how may I help you today young man" said a voice that chilled Harry's skin a little.

Harry turned around and saw a old lean man, peering around a large empty cage. He was dress like nothing Harry had ever seen, even in his short while in the wizarding world had he ever seen someone dress like him.

He had a tight greenish-black coat with the collar turned up, it almost reached this mans ears. His hands were covered by a pair of gloves that seem to be like a second skin, but the turned outward at the wrist reminding you that they were indeed gloves.

"Young man?" he said breaking Harry out of his examination of this man. "Is there something particular that you're looking for, or would you just like to peruse my collection" he said in a scary voice, but ended it with a sincere smile, confusing Harry.

"I'm looking for an owl, or at least something I could use for an owl" Harry said starting to regret his decision to come to the Bazaar first.

"An owl you say, I see, first year at Hogwarts, yes"? the old man asked looking towards the door then moving behind the counter. He pulled a very thin book out and started flipping through the pages.

"Uhm, yes sir" Harry said wondering what this man was looking at.

"Ohh, what this, sir, there's no "sir" business here, names Bragforth, Bragforth Taxidurman, and who might you be?" Bragforth asked looking at Harry now.

"Harry Potter" he said wondering if it was a good idea.

"Really be, Harry Potter in my humble establishment" Bragforth said in a light chuckle.

"So an owl you say, or a reasonable facsimile, lets see what I can do. Not many owls here I would feel right selling you" Bragforth said leading Harry through the shelves. "Sad to say but most the owls I keep are just food for some of my more, unique specimens."

Harry's attention was caught by what appeared to be a Squirrel with a scorpion tail. He leaned closer and was frightened when it charged the glass and hissed at him. "No, I don't think old Vanessa would be right for you." Bragforth said ushering Harry further along the aisle.

They reached the end of the first aisle when the store opened out a little to have many strange items on display. Bragforth kept walking but something stopped Harry. Only a few feet from where he was standing Harry saw a large black egg about two-thirds the size of an Ostrich's egg. On the stand was a plake with the Inscription "myrrh he held in his hands prefigured the death of the Son of man - Balthazar"

He didn't know why but it was calling to him, he could feel something inside whisper for him. "I see you found one of my rarest items" Bragforth said leaning over Harry's shoulder. "That is an egg of a Orobo-Raven. It is said that only the one who speaks its tongue can hatch it" Bragforth said proudly, "there are only four in the history books and I own the fifth, but until it hatches its nothing but an egg".

Harry leaned in a little more. "Is that why I've been hearing whispering coming from it"? Harry asked. Bragforth looked at Harry with shock and intrigue.

"You can hear it whisper you say?" Bragforth whispered. If the boy really could hear it, that would mean something grave, very grave indeed.

"Well yeah, can't you"? Harry asked simply wondering. Harry looked up at Bragforth with slightly toppled glasses. After years of being on the end of Vernon's cruel punishments and Dudley's beatings, he seemed not to noticed that they were askew

"Not at all" Bragforth said, "That means one thing, something you must tell no one. It would mean heavy consequences', do you understand me young Harry Potter"? Harry was scarred but nodded. "It means you're a Speaker of Serpents, Talker of Scales, Harry you're a Parseltounge" Bragforth said smiling.

"Try and talk to it, ask it its name" Bragforth suggested. Harry felt apprehensive and frankly a little stupid talking to an egg, but it was an egg that was whispering to him.

"What's your name"? Harry asked feeling nothing, then he looked to Bragforth who looked at him with wide eyes, "what, it didn't work, so now what"? Bragforth laughed, and then patted Harry on the back.

"Harry Potter you weren't speaking English, to your ears it might seem like you were, but believe me, you were not" Bragforth said smiling.

Harry was about to say something when the large black egg started to move. Harry just stared at it. It started cracking and pealing away. Then in a flash of green and black. The flash was bright and loud, so much that Harry had to turn away.

When he looked back the egg was gone. Harry was amazed, in front of him was something that had the shape of a bird, but was in no conceivably meaning of the word this was not a bird.

In place of feathers were scales, in place of a beak were a forked tongue, and in place of a fan bird like tail, was a long snake's tail. Its head was exactly that of a King Cobra. Its eyes opened and stared at Harry intently.

"Are you my Speaker"? The Orobo-Raven hissed at Harry. Although there was almost no actual motion to its lips, but the words came out as clear as a bell.

"I guess so, I mean I'm speaking with you now aren't I" Harry said back. The Orobo-Raven bowed to him, Harry nodded back.

"Do you have a name for me"? The Orobo-raven asked with a certain impatience about it.

Harry was rather embarrassed for not even thinking of a name before hand. He casually looked around and noticed the plake again. "I'll call you Balthazar." Harry said

Balthazar arrogantly looked away, and then back to Harry. "It will do, I guess" Balthazar said with a snide tone. Harry beamed at his new pet and turned to Bragforth.

Bragforth had never seen anything like it. He had seen wizards try to speak to the egg, none had succeeded. He had even had a man with an English to Parseltongue dictionary, which Bragforth thought was ridiculous.

Over the decades no one had ever even come close, but now this small, eleven year old boy had just done what and a decades worth of wizard had spent years trying to do in mere minutes. "Mr. Bragforth, you ok?" Harry asked looking at the man perplexed.

Bragforth had not noticed but his mouth had been open the whole time and still was. "Ohh, right, yes my boy, I'm quite alright" Bragforth said trying to regain his composure.

"I don't think you heard me, but I said I'll take him, how much?" Harry said holding his money pouch. Bragforth was sure of something that he thought of when the small boy told him his name. Harry Potter was going to be a Force to be reckon with. Bragforth knew that he wanted to be on friendly terms with such a force.

"For you my boy" Bragforth said looking thoughtful, but with a smile. "I think for, it's on the house" Bragforth said with a kind smile that seem to contradict the dark posture, tone, and clothing.

"What, but why?" Harry asked. "Not that I'm not grateful, but why, you don't even know me". Bragforth smile kindly again, with his wand he summoned a stool and sat down.

"For that magnificent creature, there are only three thing that you can give me for it" Bragforth said looking at the ceiling. "Number one. Make it hatch; well you've done that. Seeing an Orobo-Raven hatch is something that is too rare in it entirety, and you Harry have given me that pleasure" Bragforth said in a happy tone. "Number two. This is something I hope has already happened, call me friend, ok?" Bragforth asked with a pleading smile.

"Of course" Harry said grinning, "but what's the third, you said three things?" Bragforth nodded.

"Indeed I did" Bragforth said, "The third thing you can do is promise me your business. If you're ever in need of something, anything to do with magical creatures, you come to my store. I can assure you, while I might not be as big or as famous as the stores in Diagon Alley, I myself do know much more than they do" Bragforth said with a twisted smile that made Harry more confident in the man's knowledge.

"You got it" Harry said putting his hand out. Bragforth smiled and shook Harry's hand firmly.

Harry, with the newly christened Balthazar on his shoulder, and Bragforth made there way to the counter.

Bragforth reached behind the counter and produced an ornate bird cage with intricate patterns carved into it and covered completely in mirrors. "Now the Orobo-Raven may be on the house, but I do need to keep my supply of cages and the like up to date." Bragforth said placing the cage on the counter. "Now for a cage fitting this magnificent creature. Once I sell it to you, you can top the handle to make the mirrors see through, and tap it again so that they appear as mirrors from the outside. From the inside, just plain old glass."

Harry nodded and loved this cage. "How much for the cage?" he asked reaching for his money. Harry still wasn't sure what they were worth or how much things costed, but he wasn't worried. None of his purchases thus far had been more than he could afford. His wand was the most expensive thing so far, but that had barely scratched the surface.

Bragforth was double checking the cage with his wand as it glowed different colors over different areas. "Well a make of this quality and grade, I'll give you a discount and say 20 galleons and 2 sickles." Bragforth said.

This was the first purchase Harry had made today that he had to consider. He could still afford it, but it was a significant dip into his spending money for the day. He was about to reconsider when he remembered how much more was in his vault. He counted out 20 galleons and 2 sickles.

"Harry I feel obligated to warn you" Bragforth whispered, "speaking to snakes, while is a rare gift and will do you well in life. People will frown upon it. It is generally thought that only dark and evil wizards can be Parseltongues. This is only a half-truth. Most Parseltongues in History have been dark and evil wizards, but some have not. My favored example would be Salazar Slytherin". Harry thought for a second.

"Slytherin as in the Hogwarts house?" Harry asked a little confused.

Bragforth smiled and continued, "yes my boy, yes. "Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts. He was a Parseltongue, he was also a teacher, and a man with his three friends made a grand school. Now does that sound like the doing of an evil wizard"? Bragforth asked with a smile.

"No, not at all" Harry said confidently.

"Exactly, now are you a dark and evil wizard?" Bragforth asked jokingly, "of course your not, your eleven. Now if it should get out that you are a Parseltongue, never forget that does not make you evil, got that?" Bragforth asked sternly, almost parental.

"Yeah, I got it and anyone who doesn't agree isn't worth my time" Harry said proudly. Bragforth smile and patted Harry on the back.

"Ok I'm sure that you've got others things to do, and Hagrid is looking rather impatient at the moment" Bragforth said leading Harry towards the door.

"You know Hagrid?" Harry asked surprised. He had forgotten Hagrid mentioning his interest in Magical Beasts.

"Oh yes, you'll find Hagrid to have an odd taste in animal companions" Bragforth said. "He's my most frequent customer, or rather he would be if he actually bought anything. He's a great chap, with a devotion to magical beasts, though he does lack a certain restraint or common sense sometimes. He's always wanted a Dragon as a pet."

END CHAPTER