My Godfather

Chapter XVII: The Assault

Some of you might have felt that Harry started addressing Sirius as 'Dad' a little too early but I personally felt that it was the perfect time. Like I mentioned in the previous chapter, he never remembered having a father before. Besides, in my story, Sirius is everything that Harry ever wanted in a parent so it is natural that he looks up to Sirius as his dad.

Canon Sirius didn't get a lot of credit. This is my own portrayal of his character. In the books, if his name had been cleared and he would have adopted Harry, I can pretty much imagine him behaving the way the Sirius in my story does.

Ok people, hope you'll like this chapter.
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"He actually got sealed in?" Ron asked for the third time.

"Yes Ron, he was sealed in." Harry replied. He hadn't ever mentioned what his Uncle had done to him throughout his childhood but this was a particularly funny one. He was telling Ron and Hermione about the visit to the zoo and how Dudley had ended up on the other side of the glass.

Ron had been openly laughing away but Hermione looked thoughtful. She hadn't said a word during the little story. "You can speak to snakes." She mused out in a hushed whisper. "You're a parselmouth." She continued.

"Blimey mate! She's right. How is it that you can talk to snakes?" Ron asked. His expression was a combination of awe and confusion.

"I don't know. I bet lots of people can do it." Harry defended. He was starting to get a little uncomfortable with the way the two of them were looking at him.

"No Harry, they can't. Parseltongue is a very rare..... gift. It's associated with the dark arts. There are very few known wizards and witches who can speak it. You-know-who was one of them." Hermione elaborated cautiously. She searched his expression for any sign of anger, fear or anything else but he remained neutral.

Harry felt sick. He was like Voldemort. What if he started hurting people? What if he became evil? He wasn't evil, he just wasn't. He couldn't be.

He looked at Ron who didn't have anything to say while Hermione was frowning intensely like her brain was running at a thousand miles per hour. "Come on, lets get to potions. The last thing I need is a detention from Snape." Harry tried to steer the conversation away and fortunately, it worked. The three of them gathered their books but, all the way to the dungeons, although Harry and Ron talked quite a bit, the bushy haired brunette didn't utter a word. Her mind was miles away.

During potions, Harry finally lost his temper. He had tried his utmost to keep his anger at bay but Snape had been particularly harsh and continuously taunted him, making snide remarks whenever possible. "Honestly Potter, you seemed to have surpassed all levels of stupidity. Your skills are deplorable. Absolutely useless." Snape provoked, loud enough for the Slytherins to hear. They snickered away at the boy's expense.

He hovered over Harry's potion, sniffing at it disdainfully. With a flick of his wand, the cruel professor banished the contents of Harry's cauldron and turned on his heel. "Bloody git." Harry mumbled, not quite softly and as luck would have it, Snape heard him.

"Thirty points from Gryffindor you insolent brat." Snape snapped at him. "Stay after class, Potter. I'd like a word." Harry forced himself to remain silent. He couldn't afford to land himself into anymore trouble with his wretched potions professor.

At the end of the class, once everyone had left, he approached Snape's desk and stood in front of it. "For that little display of your unnecessary arrogance, I expect you to write me an essay on the ingredients, uses and side effects of the Girding potion. Do you understand or are you so thick skulled that you are unable to decipher the simple meaning of my words? I trust you to apply that unused brain of yours."