Harry looked curiously around the Headmaster's office. Last time he was here, he had been so upset he didn't notice all the freaky things he had.
"Sir, your bird looks like it's about to croak. Perhaps it's an omen." Harry said, looking at the old man. Dumbledore stared at him over his glasses and replied "Fawkes will be fine, my boy. Thank you for your concern." Harry wasn't really concerned about his rat with wings. He was just trying to make conversation. The Headmaster had called him into his office but didn't actually say why. So that left Harry to twiddle his thumbs. How annoying. He had been having such a wonderful conversation about different snakes with Cedric and Tonks. Looking around he spotted the Sorting Hat.
"Sir, have you ever thought about getting the Sorting Hat cleaned? It's pretty filthy and I'm sure most children don't appreciate putting it on their heads."
"Oi! You watch your mouth boy! I'm an artifact worn by Godric Gryffindor himself." The hat said.
"Yeah, an ancient artifact." Harry shot back.
"Who are you calling old?"
"I'm not calling you old, I'm saying you're old. I'm surprised you're not falling apart at your stitches!" Dumbledore gave a cough, breaking up their argument. Harry heaved a sigh and stared at the Headmaster's desk. He was so bored. He had been a little panicked when Professor Sprout had taken him here but then he remembered he hadn't actually done anything to get in trouble. When she was dismissed, she seemed like she was trying to tell him something. Harry had no clue what it could've been though.
"So Harry, I heard a rumor you could speak to snakes."
"Oh it's not a rumor." Dumbledore looked relieved before Harry continued "I can speak to snakes. I love them." Dumbledore turned really pale and Harry thought the man might actually faint.
"Harry, I know you like being special but it's not right to lie about something like that."
"Why would I lie about talking to snakes?" Harry did not appreciate being called a liar by a senior citizen.
"Your Aunt told me that you used to terrorize the neighborhood." Dumbledore said disappointedly. Harry felt his blood freeze. Why did he talk to his Aunt?
"How do you know my Aunt sir?" It was rather suspicious of Dumbledore to bring up the one person that scared Harry. The Headmaster gave him a smile and said "well I was the one who left you with your Aunt after that night, my boy." Harry felt his eye start twitching.
"What authority did you have to make that decision sir?" He asked through clenched teeth.
"Ah. I felt it was the best decision to make. A boy should grow up in the care of his family, after all." Harry couldn't stop himself from jumping up from his chair.
"I would have been better off being raised by rabid raccoons than Aunt Petunia! She is a bitter vile woman who never got over being normal! If she could have gotten away with murdering me, she wouldn't have hesitated!" He was breathing heavily but couldn't calm down. This idiot had been the sole reason Harry had spent ten years wasting away in his cupboard.
"I'm sure that's not true, my boy! Your family loves you!" Dumbledore said earnestly.
"How would you know! Aunt Petunia prayed everyday that I wouldn't find my way home." Harry clenched his hands into fists. The Headmaster was spouting lies thinking Harry would just agree. He was trying to play God in his life and Harry would not blindly follow him. Before Harry could decide how he would murder the old man, the door was thrown open and Sirius walked in with Mr. Severus following him.
"Harry! Are you okay?" Sirius asked as he looked him over for injuries.
"The Headmaster has been calling me an attention seeking liar this whole time, Sirius!" Harry sniffed and wrapped his arms around Mr. Severus. Sirius stood protectively in front of them and said "oh he has?" His voice was like ice. Mr. Severus was patting him on the back. He peeked at him and nodded.
"Sirius! Harry has been telling the other children he's a Parselmouth!" Dumbledore objected.
"You will address me as Lord Black and Harry as Heir Potter, Headmaster." Sirius said. Sirius looked at Harry and knelt down.
"It's pretty cool you can speak to snakes, Harry!" His godfather said warmly.
"Granny thought so too! I told her before I came back to school." Harry warily told him. He knew Sirius didn't like snakes and hoped this wouldn't come between them.
~~~~~~
Sirius could visibly see how upset Harry was and that enraged him. His poor godson had been through enough! He didn't deserve to be questioned by someone who should have retired twenty years ago!
"I see. Well Mother has been pushing for more snake emblems around Number 12 so I understand why now! We'll have to get you a pet snake as well! It will be nice to always have someone to talk to!" Harry let go of Snape and threw his arms around his middle.
"You really mean it?"
"Of course I do, pup! We'll get you twenty snakes if you want."
"That might be a little excessive Black" Snape commented, his lips curling up slightly. Sirius stared at him for a moment before shaking his head like a dog. Merlin! It was just a smile, get over it.
"Only owls, cats or toads are allowed at Hogwarts." Dumbledore interjected. Well that wouldn't do. There should be exceptions to every rule. He would convince the school board that a change was needed.
"But sir! Ron has a pet rat and Lee Jordan has a spider!" Sirius noticed Harry only mentioned Gryffindor students. How smart of his little pup!
"Did you say a rat, Harry?" Snape asked, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes! Ron says even his rat is a hand me down!" Harry replied.
"Hmmm interesting." Snape said. He couldn't be thinking of Pettigrew. Would Peter really stoop so low as to disguise himself as a family pet? Yes, yes he would. He always hid behind those stronger than him.
"Unfortunately, I cannot just demand to inspect every student's pet." Dumbledore looked apologetic but Sirius didn't believe him for a moment. He was curious if he would have gotten away with almost killing Snape if he hadn't been in Gryffindor. He probably would have been shipped to Azkaban that much sooner.
"But that's not fair!" Harry cried out.
"I think that's enough for tonight, my boy. It's getting quite late." The Headmaster said firmly.
"You're right, Headmaster. Next time you call Harry to your office, I would like either Severus or I to present." Sirius said, causing Dumbledore to stare at him.
"I see." They left his office and he noticed Harry was writing something on a piece of parchment.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Snape looked as confused as he felt.
"I'm writing down everything the Headmaster said just now for Hermione. She's going to work it into her essay!"
"How smart of you Harry! A very Slytherin approach." Snape praised him.
"Thank you!" Harry said as he grinned at him.
"Do you hear that? It sounded like shouting?" It was getting louder and Malfoy Jr came barreling around the corner yelling Harry's name.
"Harry my heart, I'm here! I would have been here sooner if Professor Lupin hadn't stopped me." He wheezed out before collapsing to the ground.
"Draco! Are you alright?" Harry gasped as he put the Malfoy boy's head in his lap and fanned his face.
"I should be asking you that! What'd Dumbledore want?"
"Just to be an arse." Harry said, causing Draco to snort.
"Harry! Don't swear!" Sirius scolded him.
"Tonks says it all the time!"
"Well Tonks is older!" Before they could argue any further, Remus limped around the corner.
"Merlin Moony, what's you do to yourself?"
"I didn't do anything! Mr. Malfoy kicked me in my shin!" He said, leaning against the wall. The sound of laughter got their attention. Harry and Snape were both snickering.
"Got taken out by an eleven year old, Lupin?" Snape mocked.
"Piss off Snape!" Moony said.
"Five points from Gryffindor!" Harry said, causing everyone to stare at him.
"Harry, you do know you can't take points?" Draco pointed out.
"Mr. Severus, would you mind taking five points from Gryffindor? It was Professor Lupin's old House and he just swore in front of children!" Sirius watched Snape beam at Harry before saying "five points from Gryffindor from Lupin's foul language!"
~~~~~~
"I call to order the third meeting of the HFC!" Draco said loudly.
"Vice-President, if you would take roll call?" He watched Herm call out the members' names. The twins were surprisingly well behaved as she called their names.
"Herm, I spoke with Father and he has us scheduled to meet with the school board the last week before school ends. Can you make it work?" Hermione smiled at him before saying "President! Even if it was during exams, I would make it work!" He knew how seriously she took studying so he was relieved to hear it.
"I would like to introduce my secret weapon." Everyone turned to look at him as Dobby brought a portrait in.
"Hello feral children." Headmaster Phineas Black said.
"Brilliant mate! Has he been listening to Dumbledore's conversations?" One of the twins asked.
"Of course I have! I'm assuming you're a Gryffindor? Always stating the obvious." He sniffed. "Alright, no fighting! Headmaster, do you have any news?" The painting smiled before saying "I may or may not have overheard the current Headmaster say he would invite a reporter from the Prophet for the girl's speech." Draco grinned as he knew just the witch up for the task. He would have Dobby drop off a little gift to entice her to view them favorably.
"Oh Ron! Harry said he wanted to see Scabbers! Something about finding a rat tonic he thought might help relax him!" Harry had actually told him Lord Black and Uncle wanted to see the rat but it was a secret. Ron agreed to drop the rat off the next day.
"Neville, have you spoken to your Gran about your wand?" He knew Neville had trouble standing up to the imposing woman.
"I sent her a letter asking if she would come to Hogwarts and I was going to speak to her then!" The other boy said firmly.
"Well done, mate!" Ron said, patting his back.
"Twins! You've been informed of Operation Godfathers?" The twins grinned.
"We think it's cute Harry likes Professor Snape so much he wants his second dad to marry him!" One of the twins said while the other one nodded.
"Harry is determined so we're going to make this happen!" Draco already had a plan in mind. Valentine's Day was coming up and he was planning on taking Harry out. It would only be proper if they had chaperones.