Coppery Temptation

Pairings in this chapter: LP/JP, TMR/FAK

Warnings in this chapter: AU fanfiction, Creature fanfiction, OC

Nr words in this chapter: 1,804

"Talking"

'Thinking'

–Parseltongue–

Dream/Memory/Letter/Book

Time change/date of time

Chapter X

–Rare Specimen–

Tuesday, September 03, 1991

'Light… why is there so much light?' Harry closed his eyes again. 'Mumbled voices… what are they saying? Why does it matter? Does it matter? Is that a sibling?'

–Hatchling?–

Harry opened his eyes at once, looking at the small serpent coiled next to his pillow, which was watching him and if Harry didn't know better he would say that she looked worried. Good thing he knew better, right?

Harry immediately sat up and moved away from the serpent, falling of the bed.

"Harry."

The boy looked up and saw his godfather, who with big strides approached him and helped him stand.

"Three days. Three days and you already managed to end up in the infirmary."

Harry looked slyly at him. "At least it wasn't because of a prank."

The man groaned. "What should I do with you?"

"Tie him with his ankles to the dungeons' ceiling?" an icy voice asked.

Severus tensed slightly, it was barely noticeable but Harry knew his godfather, and the two turned towards the infirmary door where Lord Tuomas Blackthorn was. The older man approached and looked at the serpent on Harry's pillow, sneering at it.

–So it was here you ran off to… if I didn't find you, what would hatcher say?–

–That you should keep your senses open and stop behaving like a Gryffindor.–

Tuomas raised an eyebrow at the snake and Harry had to contain his snicker.

"Ah Tuomas my boy, you found her." Harry looked towards the door where Dumbledore was entering with a smile in place.

"Yes professor, thank you for letting me and my father in the castle to find her. My father wouldn't forgive me if I lost a rare specimen after just buying her for his experiments."

"Of course, of course my boy. And it's Albus, Tuomas. How many years have passed since you gradated?"

"Fifty professor."

"Fifty already? Well my boy one more reason for you to call me Albus, we were colleagues for forty years after all. How many times do I have to tell you this?"

"At least one more time, professor." Tuomas said with a smirk.

Dumbledore shook his head fondly.

"And your father, lord Blackthorn. How is he coping?"

Tuomas looked at Dumbledore and then again to the snake, picking her up.

"He is well, of course. He has his eccentricities… but then, where is the man who is his age who hasn't?" Harry saw Tuomas chuckle at a private joke.

Madam Pomfrey, the healer, appeared and approached Harry immediately, forcing him to sit up and started checking him over.

"Poppy…" Madam Pomfrey looked up and found lord Tuomas' eyes.

"Oh, good to see you Tuomas. Why the visit?"

"This little one ran from me and my father at Hogsmead." The man said showing the snake in his hand.

The door to the infirmary reopened and Remus appeared, helping Lord Erioth walking. Dumbledore looked at him.

"That sure was slow Lord Blackthorn. Tuomas and I already looked through the school and just now you arrived."

"My legs aren't what they were when Tuomas was eleven, professor Dumbledore. You found her Tuomas?"

Tuomas showed his hand, but said snake wasn't in his hand anymore but had returned to the bed and was once again around Harry's shoulders, who was having problems not to start panicking again. Lord Erioth raised an eyebrow at his son.

"I thought I asked for the specimen not your hand, even if you did end up as a rare specimen yourself."

If Harry wasn't ready to explode with fear he would have had a hard time to contain his laughter.

"He–here." The adults looked at him at once.

Lord Erioth approached and looked at the snake around Harry's neck.

"Remarkable… are you seeing this Tuomas? Born a couple of weeks ago and she already choose her master."

Harry eyes widened.

"Yes father… fascinating." Tuomas said dryly, clearly not finding it fascinating at all.

"It's such a pity… such a beautiful specimen…"

Dumbledore approached, frowning. "I don't think I understand, Lord Blackthorn."

The elder man turned his eyes from the serpent to Dumbledore.

"You see, professor, this specimen, it's dependent on a master and without him, it can die. It looks like this beauty imprinted on dear Just Harry over here." Dumbledore eyes grew wide, while Lord Erioth returned to the serpent and Harry. "Such a magnificent specimen, isn't it? So young and already travelled so far just to find Just Harry and imprint. I suppose that must have provoked the indisposition of Just Harry. Don't worry my boy it's completely normal. But it's such a pity, I was expecting that she would imprint on me or Tuomas." The man shook his head sadly. "Oh well, this only means that I'll be seeing you a lot Just Harry." The man smiled down at Harry.

"But… but…" Dumbledore started.

"If I do remember from when my Tuomas was in school it is permitted to have any kind of pet as long at the pet doesn't attack others unless said others attack its master first." Lord Erioth become serious, looking at Dumbledore in the eyes. "Unless you changed that rule without the Wizengamot's permission… again."

"I didn't change any rule without the Wizenga-"

"What about the rule that says that engaged couples can't have their own quarters when it is been used for thousands of years?" Lord Erioth sneered.

"There are some rules that aren't applicable anymore, lord Blackthorn."

"But it doesn't apply to you to…"

"Hum, hum" the two immediately looked at Harry, who lowered his head and blushed as if shy. "Can I go to class?"

"Oh, that head of mine." Lord Erioth immediately helped Harry stand and then petted the serpent. "I'll see you during the winter Just Harry."

Harry nodded, bowing to Lord Erioth and then to Lord Tuomas, and left. Taking a deep breath when he left the infirmary, knowing that the adults would continue their discussion the whole day. Adults and politics…

Harry looked at the serpent sill on his shoulder.

–Why do you follow me?–

–To protect you hatchling… If Gandr attacks you again I'll be there to stop him.–

–Bu… but you're a serpent… why are you protecting me? Why?–

The serpent hissed angrily, making Harry shiver, afraid.

–You are a speaker. It's the job of any serpent to protect a speaker. No serpent will dare to attack you, on the contrary, you are veneered my hatchling. So don't worry, I'll make sure that you'll be well, while you have to relax and get used to my constant presence.–

Harry nodded, walking to the history class.

–So tell me hatchling… it's been a few years since my master walked these corridors with me, and he was a Slytherin… how much different are the classes? How does it feel, being a Gryffindor? How is the ranking in Gryffindor house? Who is at the top? Why? I want to know everything. And if there are any females that you're interested in?–

Harry looked at the serpent, forcing himself not to smile at the snake tactics.

–Well I'm eleven, too young to think of girls like that. The classes, well I know that the subjects didn't change much, only the professors and the way they are taught. And there isn't a ranking in Gryffindor, the first to arrive in the common room wins the best places and everyone is friendly and always joking and helping… are you going to stay that size?–

–Unless Gandr attacks yes. Why hatchling?–

–You're not that scary as a little snake…–

–I'll take that as a compliment, hatchling.–

Harry smiled.

–By the way, how did the Blackthorns know that you wanted to stay to protect me?–

–When hatcher, Lord Erioth, entered and saw my size and the way I didn't leave your side he immediately understood that you were mine to protect and I wouldn't leave so he must have told some lie to the headmaster for me to stay.–

–That explains a lot.–

The serpent nodded. –Jump the next step.–

Harry obeyed.

–I think I'm lost… again.–

–Where are you going?–

–History class, you don't happen to know where it is, do you?–

–You insult me hatchling.– the snake raised its head and opened its mouth letting the tongue out a few times and then turned its head to the side. –That way. You can taste the death coming from the ghost in that classroom.–

Harry smiled and closed his eyes, smelling and opened his mouth trying to let his senses smell or 'taste' it.

–No, I don't smell death, just glass.–

–You're doing it wrong. After your class I'll teach you.–

–I might not have a snake's sense, you know?–

–You'll never know until you try.–

Harry nodded and walked the way the serpent said.

–You didn't tell me your name.–

–Master calls me Nagini, but you better don't. The old bee might connect the two.–

–What would you like to be called?–

–I can choose?– Harry nodded. –I'll need to think hatchling.–

–So think…– Harry started to hear voices ahead. –We're arriving.–

–I told you, hatchling.–

Harry smiled.

–You did… what age was lord Tuomas when he started looking at females?–

Nagini chuckled.

–Tuomas never looked at any females.–

Harry raised an eyebrow at the serpent.

–What about males?–

–His mate or just random sex?–

–Both?–

–Started to feel attracted to males at 15, but didn't have anything more than an one-night stand until he turned 27 years old.–

–And his mate?–

–Gandr's master.–

Harry stopped and looked at the snake, eyes wide.

–WHAT?–

The serpent snickered but didn't reply.

–You're going to be late if you don't run, hatchling.–

Harry groaned and ran to the classroom.

–CT–

Tuomas raised an amazed eyebrow at Lord Potter. His father has just told him what he had told Dumbledore and the man had turned as pale as a ghost.

"But… but…"

"Lord Potter." James turned to him at once. "The vampire and the snake are back." It took only 5 seconds for recognition to appear on the man face. "He attacked the train. And he found your son."

James nodded.

"What should I do?"

"My father managed to sense the wards, but he can't upgrade them without Dumbledore finding out."

"I'll talk to the Wizengamot. A vampire attacking the train is no small thing."

"Make sure that my father is the one who updates the wards… and you should talk with Remus or Severus about getting your son food for the snake… she has a huge appetite."

(TBC)

Hi,

I need a name for Nagini, who wants to give ideas, be my guest.

Don't forget to read and review Family Issues. the one-shots are a part of this story, so it should be read as a whole.

Hope you liked it, please review!

~Isys