Harry got an invitation from Hagrid to visit at the end of the first week. So had Lina, for that matter, but something in the way Hagrid wrote "To Harry and Lina" made the sorceress feel like an afterthought. She brushed it off; Hagrid was a dope like Gourry after all. Ron asked to come along, and Harry had no problem with that. It was good having a friend who wasn't scared by the Inverse name. Or, Harry was realizing, intimidated by the Boy Who Lived moniker.
Hagrid's house turned out to be an oversized one-room hut out by the forest. The inside was rough and rugged in a way that set Lina and Harry at ease instantly, although Ron couldn't take his eyes off the hooks in the ceiling, most occupied by hams or pheasants and one chunk of sheep hidden in a corner. The man who lived here made do without muggle technology or wizard opulence, and that suited the Inverse twins just fine. Lina in particular was reminded on life on the road and smiled.
Hagrid's houseguest had left his own mark on the hut already. Gourry's bed was up on one side, out of the way, but the marks on the floor suggested at night there was precious little open space left. Outside, a ways from Hagrid's garden, he had planted a few sparring dummies that already showed their use as targets for an undeniable master of his art. Gourry himself was wandering around the castle somewhere.
Hagrid pulled a copper kettle from the fireplace and served a rather good tea, in sharp contrast to the small grey cakes he attempted to serve them."So, yeh mus' be a Weasley, eh Ron?" he asked. Ron nodded. "Thought so. I've been chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest for…feels like half me life." He chuckled. "Good teh see yer makin' friends, Harry. How have classes been?"
The three students went about describing their classes for a while, and their runins with other members of the staff. Everyone agreed that Filch was "an old git" but Hagrid surprised everyone by defending Snape. "Snape's an alright sort," he said. "Yeh'll ne'er call him friend an' he'll ne'vr ask yeh to, but he's a fair teacher."
"Fair?" Harry asked, stunned. "He's taken a bunch of points off us whenever he can."
Hagrid grinned ruefully. "Ne'er said he was a fair Head o' Slytherin," he corrected. "But he'll teach yer good as yer could ask if'n yeh let him."
Harry sighed. "Not like I got much of a choice."
Hagrid smiled slightly. "Now don't be like that, 'Arry. Here, took some doing but I was able to get some paperwork filled out and got yer a late birthday present."
Harry blinked. "A what? Hagrid, you didn't need to…"
Hagrid waved off the objection. "I wanted to, Harry. I was going ter get you an owl, but I think yeh'll like this better." He held his hand out behind a cabinet and made a gentle cooing noise.
Harry, Lina, and Ron all leaned to get a better look. They gasped as a black, red, and yellow striped cable coiled itself around Hagrid's arm at lightning speed. The snake's black head hovered a few inches above Hagrid's shoulder and flicked its tongue. It was nearly two feet long and fairly broad.
Harry smiled. "A scarlet kingsnake," he identified it. "How perfect."
"Perfect?" Ron asked, staring at Harry as if he was loony. "It's a snake. That's a Slytherin's pet."
"Well, his colors will fit in among Gryffindors," Lina drawled.
"And kingsnakes eat other snakes," Harry added. Then he said something that sounded positively evil and held out his hand.
Ron stared at Harry, face white. "You're a parselmouth?" he choked.
"Her name's Sally," Hagrid said with a smile. The snake slithered onto Harry's hand and gave him a friendly squeeze, hissing at him gently.
"Her name," Harry corrected, "is Kora."
Lina glanced at Ron. "If he's not, it's a remarkable impression."
"You sure?" Hagrid asked. "The bloke what sold her to me said it was Sally."
Harry smiled. "Kora is quite sure what her name is, Hagrid. Thank you so much."
Hagrid straightened and beamed proudly. "She's not just a normal snake, neither, Harry."
"Yes she is quite large for a kingsnake," Harry agreed.
"She's not fer her particular breed, 'Arry," Hagrid said with a wink. "In fact, she ain't done growing yet."
Harry blinked and looked Kora over. "Really?"
Hagrid nodded. "I figured you'd need a critter what could take care of herself. Ask her ter open her mouth."
Harry hissed at Kora, who obliged by opening wide. Harry immediately saw something that didn't belong. "Those are viper fangs," he said. "You can see where they inject venom."
"Aye, got it in one, Harry," Hagrid chuckled. "But she ain't no viper. You know how kingsnakes are immune to the poisons of other snakes? Well, magic breeds like Kora have even better antivenom. That bite of hers can neutralize any snakebite out there, and plenty of other nasty poisons too."
"Wicked," Ron said approvingly. He had to admit, that was a fine pet for a Gryffindor parselmouth. "Wait until Malfoy gets a load of this. Special permission for a snake like that? He'll go batty!"
A few hours later, Lina stalked through dungeons towards the potions classroom. She checked to make sure she wasn't followed and slowly opened the door.
Snape was there, alone, a sneer quickly appearing on his face. "Ah, Miss Inverse. You are late."
Lina put a hand on her hip and scowled back at Snape. "I wasn't aware of any particular appointment, Professor."
Snape stood and quickly walked to one of the small cauldrons in his office. "You would do well to mind your tone, Ms. Inverse. Even your proper age is not yet a proper adult, and even if you were I would still be your professor."
Lina snorted contemptuously. "Professor, I have been a wandering sorceress for years and I have stared down creatures that would send your 'Lord Voldemort' scrabbling for his bedsheets." Lina was rewarded by Snape twitching – much less a reaction to 'He Who Must Not Be Named' than his peers.
Snape carefully measured Lina's potion and handed it to her. "Your stories are entertaining," he warned, "but you have yet to prove your magic to my satisfaction. Like your 'brother' you have more ego than ability. But you will have a chance to show everyone tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Lina asked. She quaffed the foul-tasting potion at once; Snape had nothing to gain by sabotaging it and revealing her secret. She would be merely awkwardly placed for her age. Snape, however, would have his supposed expertise damaged. Perhaps Malfoy or his toadies would be so shortsighted, but Snape was a clear paragon of what Slytherins could be. His self-image would not tolerate such sabotage.
"Yes," Snape said cruelly. "The Headmaster asked me to inform you that you will give a demonstration of your magic tomorrow, out by the lake."
Lina frowned. That was very sudden…but Lina Inverse would be ready for any test they put her to!
That evening Harry Inverse entered the common room with Kora wound around his left arm, her head resting gently on his shoulder.
"Is that a snake?" one of the older students asked.
Harry blinked. "What else would it be?"
"What's that?" Percy Weasley came down the stairs from the boy's dormitory. "Someone has a snake? That's not allowed!" He caught Harry's eye, or more accurately Kora's.
"I have permission!" Harry called quickly. "Hagrid got her for me and took care of all the rules."
Percy relaxed slightly, but he still looked her over disapprovingly.
Kora flicked her tongue at Percy. "He smells like a prat," she hissed. "I'm going to curl up by the fire."
Harry held his right arm out to the fireplace mantle and Kora slithered over his shoulders, pausing to flick his ear affectionately with her tongue, down his arm and onto the warm stonework. She blended into the Gryffindor colors perfectly.
A fact which wasn't lost on other viewers. "She's quite pretty," Hermione offered reluctantly. "You sure you're allowed to have her?"
"Hagrid is," Harry said with conviction. "Besides, it's not like I'm the only one with a different pet. Ron has a rat, remember?"
"Hey yeah, rats aren't on the list," Ron said, looking to Percy. The elder Weasley blanched; Scabbers had originally been his rat. "So I guess there is some leeway after all."
Neville, the young boy who kept losing his toad, looked at the snake fearfully. "It isn't poisonous is it?"
"No, she's a constrictor," Harry soothed.
"What does she eat? I don't want her going after Trevor!"
Harry could understand that. "Don't worry. She's no more dangerous than a cat." Which was still plenty dangerous, but since cats were on the list there were a few wandering around anyway, and there hadn't been incidents. Neville seemed unconvinced, so Harry turned to Kora. "Kora, I want you to promise me that you won't go hunting in the castle and let me bring food to you."
Kora reared up, regarded Harry a lazy moment, and clearly nodded. Harry turned back to Neville. "Satisfied?"
Silence reigned in the Gryffindor common room. Harry realized that everyone was staring at him, except Ron who was busy being amused at the reactions. "Haven't you ever heard a parselmouth?" he asked the silence.
In a different life, Harry Potter revealed his talents when all around him were frightened of the unknown Heir of Slytherin. Without that fear to prey on…well there was still a bit of an uproar and a great deal of uncertainty, but little outright fear or, worse, hate. With Kora at his side looking like a proper Gryffindor's pet, Harry quickly moved past the dark reputation of his talent and it became just another peculiarity of one of Hogwarts's most peculiar students.
At least for now.
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(Posted Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:22)
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