Naga Inheritance

Hi everyone. Thank you for reading Naga Inheritance. this is the new chapter and I hope you like it. Thank you to hieisdragoness18 for your suggestions about Harry's familiar. Thank you Luci for your offer of assistance. I have a beta though. Thank you Slytherdor . *waves to the awesome beta* And now on to the chapter.
“words” = regular speech
'words' = thoughts
$words$ = parseltongue

XXX Chapter Eleven XXX

Harry sat up, waking slowly. He couldn't see and so he felt around for his glasses, before remembering he'd gotten his vision corrected magically. Okay, he didn't need his glasses, so why couldn't he see? He reached up to his face and solved the conundrum, there was a piece of paper stuck to his forehead. He pulled it off his face and scanned it once. It was a list off the books in his library. He must have fallen asleep while taking inventory.

“Krissy.” he called.

“Yes, Harry” asked Krissy, stepping forward from the corner of the library, she'd been waiting for Harry to wake up, luckily Harry had not noticed her chuckle over paper incident.

“Are Remus and Sirius awake yet?”

“No, Misters Black and Lupin is still sleeping.”

“If the don't wake up before I leave, would you tell them I've gone to Diagon Alley?”

“Krissy is not thinking Misters Black and Lupin will gets up anytime soon. They is making lots of noise last night, they is forgetting silencing charms.”

Harry nearly laughed aloud, poor house-elves. He'd have to remind them to use silencing charms next time, or maybe just a permanent one on their room. He couldn't wait to see the look on Remus's face when Harry told him. It'd be sooo amusing. Maybe he should bring a camera...

Harry got ready fairly quickly,. He'd decided to eat a bigger breakfast, between Sirius being freed and taking inventory, he'd forgotten to eat. But it had been worth it, he'd gotten his godfather back and some awesome books. Among the few spell books and stray potion texts he'd found a multitude of books teeming with pranks just waiting to be tried. No wonder the Marauders had been such good prankster if they'd had a these books at their disposal. One or two of the pranks he'd skimmed would be perfect for revenge on his ex-friends. It would mean he'd have to pick up several more things in Diagon Alley and a few in Knockturn, but it'd be worth it to see the looks on their faces after he'd pulled them. He'd have to make sure to keep track of the time though, he'd promised to meet Damien and his friends in front of the Leaky Cauldron at around five.

He stepped through the fireplace and into the Leaky Cauldron, smoothly thanks to all his practice. Harry decided to head to the apothecary first and pulled out a long list of all the ingredients. He needed some for school and a lot for all the pranks he planed on pulling. Some of them required to use of potions. He sat outside, away from the smell of potion ingredients and preserved oddities, while he waited for the shopkeeper to find what he needed.

“Come on, Ron.” Harry turned around at the sound of his ex-friend's voice. “Dumbledore said a house-elf got a hold of Harry's school list, that means he could be somewhere in Diagon Alley.” Hermione was dragging a half-protesting Ron–– No, Granger was dragging a half-protesting Weasley, around Diagon Alley.

“But I thought we agreed it was a good thing he got away?” That made Harry pause, but he believed Ron meant it was a good thing because he wouldn't have to hang out with Harry anymore. The thought made him sad for a moment, but he refused to acknowledge it. Those two were not his friends, they had betrayed him.

“Away from the Dursleys. Not Dumbledore, now help me look!”

Harry stalked forward, a smirk on his face, his robes billowing in a way that would have made Severus proud. He stopped directly in front of Granger and Weasley, effectively blocking their path.

They took in his appearance, long hair, green shirt, piercings and of course his smirk. They immediately assumed he was a Slytherin, conveniently ignoring the fact that for all they knew he didn't even know if he went to Hogwarts or not. “You're in our way.” sneered Hermione, in no mood to deal with evil snakes. She hated Slytherins, it wasn't that she believed they were all evil, she wasn't stupid after all. But she was prejudice and she truly believed the crap Dumbledore had been feeding her all these years.

“Move, you snake.” Ron had grown up with his parents denouncing Slytherins all his life. His mother had all told him how much she despised them, when they were alone anyway, I wouldn't do to show her temper in front of company after all. But the truth was, she was a pureblood as well and as such she had zero tolerance for muggles. She wouldn't go out and kill them herself, but if a muggle was accused of a crime against a non-slytherin wizard, she demanded, at least to her family, that they be punished to the full extent of the law. She didn't really care if they were guilty or not, the opinion was extended toward slytherins as well.

“You mean to say, you don't recognize me? I'm hurt.” said Harry in a falsely sweet voice, his smirk growing slightly.

“Why would we know a fucking slytherin?” asked Weasley, shocking even himself with his cursing.

Harry was unfazed. “Although I cannot deny being a snake, I am a Gryffindor, not Slytherin, sixth year in fact.”

“No you're not.” said Granger. “We know all the sixth year Gryffindors, that was a very stupid lie.” Her voice was full of loathing.

“On the contrary, you didn't figure out who I am, even after I gave you such a nice clue, event show you're the one lacking in intelligence.”

“That's not true! Hermione's the smartest person in our school.” said Ron biasedly defending his very angry girlfriend.

“Obviously not, if she hasn't recognized me yet.” taunted Harry.

Hermione was furious, how dare he! He would pay! She didn't care who he was anymore, he could be Harry Fucking Potter and–– Wait a minute... “Harry?” she asked warily.

“Ding ding, you win a prize.” said Harry sarcastically.

“Harry!” cried Ron, shocked and confused. Harry was his friend, why was he being so rude?

Hermione mentally cussed 'Fuck! Did we just blow our chance to get him back to Dumbledore?' She changed her attitude immediately. “Harry!” she said cheerily, suddenly she was all smiles. “What are you doing in Diagon Alley?”

“Nice try but I heard you talking. Dumblefuck told you I'd be here.” harry sneered.

“He's worried about you. You've been gone so long. He thought you'd been kidnapped.”

“By someone who was willing to let me attend Hogwarts? Krissy fetched my letter already. Dumbledore knows I'm in no danger.”

“But what if you'd been kidnapped afterward? We've had no word from you.” cried Hermione, grasping for straws.

“So he sent two untrained wizards, barely of age, to come look for me?”

“He sent others too, of course. He gave us this job because it was the safest.”

“So how come you look so weird mate?”

“You always were an idiot.” said Harry pretending he felt no guilt over his words and conveniently forgetting his previous ignorance of wizarding inheritance.

Ron was shocked, Harry had never called him an idiot before.

“Now if you'll excuse me, it seems my potion ingredients are ready.” Harry turned for a moment to speak to the shopkeeper who had stepped outside to call him in. “Well, are you going to move, or shall we stand outside all day?”

The shopkeeper practically jumped, he spun around walking back into the store to ring Harry up.

Hermione growled quietly as she stared at Harry's retreating back. She grabbed the hand of a very confused and hurt Ron and she dragged him off,

Harry watched the window, still glaring and did not look away until his ex-friends had vanished from his sight. Then his eyes began to water and he began blinking rapidly, so as not to cry. Hermione had always been so kind and Ron.... Ron had been the brother he had always wished for. Their betrayal hurt him deeply. He regained his composure and turned to the shopkeeper. “Well? What are you waiting for? Tell me my total.” Harry paid for his purchases and stormed off, cloak billowing behind him.

From nearby Malfoy looked on appreciatively. He hadn't thought Potter was attractive or anything and he most certainly had not been watching him, but he had happened to notice the skirmish. Nor had he been listening, but he had heard the conversation and even he had to admit, most reluctantly mind you, that Potter had grown a backbone since the end of the school year. He watched the the quickly disappearing figure, trying to convince himself that Potter was hideous.

“Draco.” called Lucius, quietly of course, Malfoy's do not lower themselves so much as to raise their voices in public. Draco immediately stood up.

“Father.” he replied.

“I trust you have finished your shopping.”

“Yes father.”

To most the conversation seemed to suggest that the father and son were not very close. This was, however, not the case. Both Lucius and Narcissa dearly wanted children, though as of yet the had born only Draco. Being their own son, Draco was terribly spoiled. The were considered evil and they had no qualms about torturing and killing anyone the Dark Lord ordered them to, but their son was more important than any Lord. He was their sun, their moon and even the very magic that gave them life. Their love for Draco was rivaled only by his love for them. They were very close, even if the seemed distant to outsiders.

Draco stood in thought for a moment and came to a decision. “Father, it seems the Golden Boy, Harry Potter, has had a falling out with Dumbledore, his friends as well if that very public scene is to be believed.” He pondered Harry's–– no Potter's change of appearance, 'When did I start thinking of him as Harry?' and decided to include that in his tale. “He also seems to have come into an inheritance of some sort. His hair and body have grown quite a bit. He could have glamoured any other changes.”

“Interesting...hmmm, I think the Dark lord does not need to know this right away.” Lucius could speak freely in the silence charmed spaces of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.

“But Father, won't he find out anyways?”

“Perhaps not, not everyone recognizes the signs of an inheritance.”

“But I saw them clear as day Father.”

“Of course you did, as someone who has recently come into an inheritance, you knew what signs to look for.”

Draco cringed. He had know about the ancient pureblood practice, but he hadn't expected the Malfoy's to have done it too. 'Well,' he thought 'At least they had good taste.' those in the Malfoy line sometimes inherited Angelus blood. They got wings and claws. Draco's wings were a beautiful silver color. Everyone in the Malfoy line inherited the gray eyes and blond hair of the Angelus. Not to mention they were one of the few creature protected by the mating laws, even if they were considered dark. This was, of course, thanks to the Malfoys. Money could get you just about anything you wanted. Besides the Angelus were only considered dark because a few to many people manipulated their talents for dark purposes. Thus, the Malfoys were responsible for the prejudice against and the protection of the Angelus.

Draco consider his mate. He knew that every Angelus had a mate, someone out there born especially for them. They were also capable of male pregnancy, on of the few magical creatures, including Nagas, Elves, Vampires and occasionally Werewolves, who could manage that. And it was a good thing too, Draco would need an heir after all and a few other children, Draco had inherited his parents' love of children. Draco was gay and as such his mate would be male. Mates are perfect for each other in every way, even if they don't always know it.

The Malfoy men had lapsed into silence, a silence that was suddenly broken when Lucius suddenly rose and spoke. “Draco, if you're done here, then it's time to return to the Manor.” Draco nodded and followed obediently after his father.

~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~
Harry walked faster, the exercise effectively calming him down. He stopped suddenly when he smelled something interesting. Had his sense of smell always been this strong?

Harry looked around. The smell was coming from a pet shop, a very seedy pet shop. Harry took a closer look at his surroundings. He was in Knockturn Alley. How had he ended up there? He decided from now on, being who he was, that it would, perhaps, be a good idea to pay attention to his surroundings. Silently reprimanding himself, he entered the pet shop that had caught his attention.

Harry lifted his face slightly and inhaled the scents. He smelled waste, sweat and blood, he recognized these smells from his past. These were not suitable living conditions for any animals and especially not the rare ones displayed around the store.

Perhaps there was a suitable familiar among these, just waiting to be saved. Slytherin or no, Harry still had a Hero Complex. 'Maybe I should come back here late with Sirius. We would have fun freeing all these animals.' Harry listened to the hissed conversations as he approached the snakes cage.

$Do you think he'll pick one of usss?$ asked a snake, staring unblinkingly at Harry.

$Doubt it, that human looksss to nicce to want a sssnake and he sssmellss a bit like a Gryffindor.$ said another snake, flicking his tongue into the air.

$Don't judge be appearanccesss, the boy-who-lived isss a parssseltongue and you never sssee a niccer sssmile than Dumbledore'sss asss you die beneath hisss boot.$ said a wise looking snake studying Harry. It was not in any kind of tank or cage.

$The boy-who-lived! No way!$ called a small green snake near the door. $He'sss a Gryffindor, Gryffindorsss hate sssnakesss.$

$I wouldn't be ssso ssure.$ said Harry, finally speaking up. Every snake in the room turned to look at him, falling silent. The air was thick with tension until the wise looking snake from before spoke again.

$Ssso Misster Potter, you are Missster Potter aren't you?$

$Yesss$

$Have you come for a familiar?$ Even as she spoke the snake language, Harry noticed she had an accent, how strange.

$Yesss again.$

The snake smiled, the human expression looking out of place on such a reptilian face. $Then welcome, Ssspeeker to my humble pet sshop.$

$Your pet sshop?$ Suddenly the snake was no longer a snake. Before him stood an old gypsy woman. Her many bracelets clanked and rattled as she bowed to him, mockingly.

“You're an animagus! Are the all animaguses?” asked Harry stupidly as he looked around.

The old woman laughed. “No they are regular and magical sssnakesss.” Harry noticed that the hiss did not leave her voice even when she spoke human words. “Do you have sssomething in particular in mind?”

$Yesss$, “I mean yes.” said Harry. “I think I'd like a snake, there are definite benefits to having a familiar who can talk to you.”

“Let'sss sssee, asss the sssavior of the wizzarding worls, you'll need sssomething that can protect you. May I sssuggessst sssomething venomousss?”

“Yes that would probably be a wise choice.”

“Hmm... hmm, a venomousss sssnake, venomousss sssnake, venomousss sssnake.” she practically sung to herself as she wandered around, peering at her most deadly charges.

As odd as she was, she reminded Harry of Olivander , the man who sold Harry his wand. Oliver sold the best wands, perhaps she sold the best familiars?

“How about thisss one, a cobra, very deadly, sshe isss female, her name isss Karon.” she was a beautiful black snake but harry just shook his head. “Or Tom, he'sss a Sssyntine sssnake with ssstar marksss.” she said gesturing. “He hasss magic venom that burnsss through even sssoilid steel.” But again Harry shook his head.

$Or me.$ said a snake from behind Harry. He, Harry that is, spun quickly around. The black and silver snake had escaped his cage.

“Todd!” yelled the woman, “Go back to your cage. You don't want him, he'sss very disssobedient.” she said to Harry.

“What is he?”

“A Noctisss sssnake. Hisss venom may be deadly, but he doesss not obey massstersss.”

Harry stared into the ebony eyes of Todd the snake. $You'll need a new name.$ he said, reaching his hand, palm up, toward the snake. It curled around his arm.

“Put him down! Hesss dangerousss.” She did not understand parseltongue in human form.

“I've chosen him.” said Harry. He looked down at the snake.”His name shall be Alexander.”

“Pleassse reconsssider. Perhapsss a different ssspeciesss entirely would be bessst. Maybe a––“

As is on cue a pitiful mew came from the back room.

“I'd like to see the animal in your back room as well.” said Harry, not wanting to leave an injured animal in this woman's care.

“You can't sssee it! It'sss not tamed!”

“If it's injured and it sounds like it is, then it's not in any condition to be 'tamed'.”

“It'sss not injured, it'sss intelligant, asss it'sss particular breed tendsss to be. It knowsss you're here and wantsss your sssympathy.”

“What is it exactly?” asked Harry.

The woman was reluctant to answer. She knew Harry wasn't all sunshine and sweets, but he was still the savior of the wizarding world. Besides, he'd be more likely to to contact the authorities if she refused to tell him, so she eventually answered. “A dragon.”

Harry's eyebrows shot up. 'Dragons are illegal. How could this woman, who owns so filthy a pet shop, have gotten one?' “I want to see it.” said Harry, leaving no room for argument.

The woman knew that tone., she heard it only when she spoke to pureblood wizards and high ranking officials. It was an order and if it was not followed, precisely and to the word, the price for her disobedience might be more than she could pay. “Yesss sssir,of courssse sssir.”

Harry followed her to the back room. The woman did not bother to turn on the lights, but Harry saw the dragon as the light from the shop poured into the darkened room. It was filthy, covered in blood, dirt and it's own waste. Harry felt a twinge of sadness as he remember the dragons from the Triwizard Tournament. They had been beautiful, with shining scales. Harry couldn't help but pity the obviously adolescent dragon with beautifully feathered wings. He felt anger towards the woman for her mistreatment of the rare creature.

“It's name shall be Acerbus.” said Harry, not bothering to glance at the woman. “Name your price.”

“A thoussssand galleonsss.” she said and the haggling began. When they were done, Harry summoned Krissy to take him and his new pets back to Marauder's Den. His school supplies could wait until another day.

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Did you like it? Please review. Sorry it took so long to update. I'll try to do it faster next time. Thank you for reading this, I hope you're happy and well whoever and wherever you are.
Tenari Rose^^