The Headmaster's Only Mistake

Setting Things in Motion

A/N: Just in case: the $ is for parseltongue and the # will be for when other animals are speaking with Harry. He speaks to them normally. When he talks in another language, it will be in italics and implied.

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"No you don't. Now get up, you great lump."

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Harry was sitting quietly at the Slytherin table, looking over his mental list of objectives for the year.

1. Find and protect Philosopher's Stone from Marvolo's wraith (Is the stone real? Does Mr. Flamel even know Dumbledore has it?)

2. Become Slytherin Prince

3. Practice animagus transformations

4. Find horcruxes and keep them safe

5. Begin planning the ritual in my dream

6. Get on the quidditch team (today's flying lessons maybe?)

7. Visit Forbidden Forest, Black Lake, and contact magical species leaders to form alliance

8. Take Fawkes, Hedwig, and Medusa on a hunting spree

Harry sighed as he planned out everything. Today they would have flying lessons with the Gryffindors, and he would have to make sure that Ronald Weasley got mad enough to challenge him. While Harry knew that participating in school quidditch after so many years of practicing with the best flyers in history wasn't exactly fair, he didn't care. He loved quidditch and he was going to thoroughly enjoy flattening the other four teams. Harry would also try to contact Fawkes at some point in the day and spend some quality time with his familiar.

Harry groaned quietly as he looked down at his empty plate. He didn't really feel like eating, but he could hear Mortem reminding him on the importance of eating three meals a day. He piled up a few pieces of toast, scrambled eggs, and sausages on his plate.

$Master, the annoying red-head is here, may I eat him?$ Medusa asked from her place around Harry's neck.  He didn't even look up from his plate to see the fuming ginger that was walking their way.

$As much as I would enjoy that, I do believe that I would be held accountable for your actions and that wouldn't be very wise.$ He hissed back. She flicked her tongue in annoyance but settled her head back on his shoulder. 

$I miss Hedwig, when is Hedwig coming to see us?$ the snake continued.

$Mail should be here any second. Oh! By the way, I'll be taking you hunting some time this month with my other familiar, Fawkes.$

Medusa hissed joyfully and slithered down Harry's arms and took a sausage from his plate.

"Harry! What are you doing in Slytherin?! You belong in Gryffindor, with me!" said boy heard from behind him. Harry rolled his eyes and turned around to see Ron glaring at his snake.

"Ronald, unless you are deaf and have a very poor internal clock, the hat put me in Slytherin a week ago, and while I don't doubt Gryffindor being a wonderful house, it is not the place for me, especially if you're there as well. Now if you would please stop staring at my snake as if she's murdered your entire family, I do wish to finish my breakfast before flying lessons."

"But you don't belong in stinking Slytherin with the slimy snakes!"

"If you've ever been to the Slytherin commons, you'd know it smells quite lovely, the gardenias and lupines all around the room make sure of that; and for the thousandth time -honestly, do you ever listen?-  snakes aren't slimy. I'd offer you to touch Medusa, but I don't want your dirty hands touching her." Harry retorted.