From Orphan to a Dragon's Child

The Serpentine Snare

Ignoring Neville's shout, Harry reached a small hand towards the writhing vine nearest to him, upon making contact Harry gasped as the vine curled tenderly around his wrist, gripping tightly enough to hold on.

$Hello beautiful...$ Harry hissed towards the now writhing mass of vines

Surprising him, a small red, five petaled flower rose from the mass of vines and opened its petals revealing a small snake curled inside. The snake was a beautiful shade of teal, with eyes of rubies. It rose its head and slowly slithered towards Harry's hand still holding the vine. The vine slowly slithered from Harry's grasp but not before giving a light pat with the tip of its vine. The teal snake by then had replaced the vines position and looped its self three times around Harry's wrist before resting its head on the back of his hand. The snake must have been around 3ft in length and by the looks of it it still had a long time to grow. 

$Hello speaker, thank you for choosing me..$ It hissed lightly

$Choosing you?" Harry replied

$Yes... every snare holds one of my kind to protect from poachers, there are only a few of my type of magical snake species left, I am from the constrictor snake species Undomina, and yes I have still a whole lot more to grow since I am a constrictor speaker.$ 

$Wow...you are incredible.. does this mighty one have a name?$ Harry smoothly responded, lightly stroking the coils of the serpent

$You may call me Tybalt speaker...What is my speaker's name?$ Tybalt questioned, shifting its triangle head to rub its snout against Harry's knuckle.

$Tybalt, is a good name, my name is Harry Potter but you may call me just Harry$

$Hello just Harry...$ Tybalt responded

Chuckling lightly Harry shook his head before correcting Tybalt. He was thrown out of the conversation when strong arms wrapped around his waste and pulled him away and down to the ground. A worried voice came from behind his right ear, arms around his waist tightening in fear.

"Harry! Are you ok! You zoned out when the plant opened!" Neville cried out

Shifting to turn and face Neville, Harry kneeled between his legs, holding his forearms and giving Neville a big smile.

"Thank you for worrying about me Neville... the plant gave me a special gift for choosing it" Raising his hand Tybalt revealed himself.

$Harry are you hurt...? Has your den-mate done something?" Tybalt hissed lightly

Neville shifted his eyes downward and made eye contact with the jewelled eyes of Tybalt. Breathing out slowly Neville reached a shaky hand and ran a finger across Tybalt's triangle forehead. Tybalt released a soft hiss.

"What is its name?"

Smiling brightly at Neville's bravery, Harry passed Tybalt to Neville, watching him slide across his forearm to loop around Neville's wrist.

"His name is Tybalt" Harry responded simply

"$Tybalt this is Neville my closest friend$  

$Neville is your den-mate?$ Tybalt responded after uttering a soft hiss at Neville's fingers running down his spine

$What is a den-mate Tybalt?$ Harry questioned, smirking when seeing Neville pay special attention the the teal snake

$You mate Harry, the one you have hatchlings with$ 

Choking on nothing but air, Harry stared at Tybalt with incredulity. Avoiding Neville's stare with blushing mortification, he was suddenly aware that he was sat between Neville's spread legs.

$N-Neville is not my den-mate$ Harry stuttered towards the snake. Was the snake grinning? He thought.

$Ah. My bad. But Neville smells of great attraction towards you$ The snake responded before resting his head on Neville's palm.

Neville likes me? Harry thought to himself.

"Think you'll get along well with Tybalt Neville?" Harry spoke up to avoid the growing embarrassment 

"I think I will, it's a shame I cannot understand him but its good that Tybalt understands English" Neville smiled at the stream of content hissing emanating from the pile of teal scales.

"Well then, I guess this is the start of a beautiful companionship" Harry responded 

Both Tybalt and Neville nodded in agreement. 

Flicking his wand and muttering Tempus, Harry cursed when he saw the time. 8:47 pm. Curfew ends at 9pm and so standing up Harry offered Neville is hand, grunting when Neville's arm almost pulled him back down.

"We'd best get back to the common room now, before Minerva hunts us down  and gives us detention for being out of curfew" Neville nodded quickly and paled at the thought of the lioness hunting them down.

Bidding goodbye to the Serpentine Snare and making sure Tybalt was curled tightly around Neville's neck under his cloak, Harry grasped Neville's hand tightly, pointedly ignoring the sharp intake of breath behind him at the action before dragging them out of the greenhouse and back up to Hogwarts.

They were met with Minerva who stood at the top of the steps before Great Hall.

"Harry...Mr Longbottom good to see you are here before curfew is up, straight to the common room please."

Nodding his head Harry smiled lightly at Minerva, showing his teeth when Minerva's lip twitched in amusement.

"Of course Minerva...goodnight to you" Harry responded smoothly, ignoring the choked cough from Neville at Harry's use of the Head Lioness's first name.

Climbing the moving staircases quickly and silently, avoiding the sleeping portraits, they stopped before the Fat Lady, coughing lightly to arouse the sleeping Lady in the portrait.

"Ah young gents, just in time for the curfew, good to see you, best get inside, nice and safe that's it. Oh no need for the password, Minerva has sent a whisper along the portraits for you." She gave them a sleepy smile before turning back around and disappearing behind the bush. 

Stepping through the portrait hall, the common room was empty and the once roaring fire sizzled in dying embers. Climbing the stairs to the left, they pushed through the Year 4 dorms door before coming to a halt. Moving quietly Neville went to the right to his bed and quickly began changing into his pyjamas, pointedly avoiding looking at Harry who had already stripped down to his boxers. 

Neville jumped when a light tapping ensued from his left shoulder, turning he came face to face with Harry, bare in his boxers.

"Here let me take Tybalt, thanks for holding him by the way, its nice to have someone who doesn't hold immediate prejudice against snakes." Neville nodded dumbly, trying to avoid blushing, shivering slightly when Harry's cold hands came into contact with the tender skin around his neck.

Seeing his discomfort Harry stared in confusion before looking down and seeing himself practically naked. Blushing bright red he murmured a quick goodnight before sliding under the cold sheets and closing the curtains around him, but not before taking a quick peek at Neville, only to shy away when he made eye contact.

Refusing to think about it anymore, he hissed a goodnight to Tybalt who was curled up on his pillow before going to sleep.