Defining Family

Sleeping with Snakes

Harry smiled when he woke up. The forest was a little brighter now as he sat up. He frowned quickly though. Where was the pretty fire bird or the snake?

"Ah. I see you're awake. Harper, have you brought food for the human?" A voice hissed. A black skeleton of a horse emerged from the Dark. It's wings ruffled a moment as it let out a small whine.

A selections of berries was brought to Harry and the snake nudged an apple toward him.
"We need to do something about the laguage barrier." The snake hissed. The Thesral whined again, causing the snake to become irritable. "I'm not waiting for the forest's magic to set in on this child. We don't know how long that could take." He looked to Harry who was watching curiously. He pushed the apple closer. "Eat human!"

Harry jumped and took the Apple. The taste caused a hum of satisfaction to leave his throat. It was so good! Harry quickly swallowed and smiled at the snake. "Thank you Mr.Snake." he said polietly.

Both Thestral and Baskalis froze. "You're a speaker human? You can understand us?" The snake asked in amazment. Harry shook his head.
"I'm sorry. I can only understand you." He confirmed.
The snake hummed in thought. "Are you a wizard?" He asked. Harry shrugged.
"Daddy always said I would be a great wizard someday." He said, taking anither bite of the apple. Harry's eyes wondered the the stick he'd dropped last night. It looked kinda like a bone.

It felt like Daddy's wand, but.... Better? It was hard to explain. Harry put the wand down, confused.
"Where am I? One moment I was in the weird dungeon and Dudley was crying to get me in trouble, the next I'm in the strange place."
The snake listened carfully and looked at the Thestral. "You probably apperated here, though I don't know how. This island is unplottable. No human, or near human can locate this place. It's a safe haven for Magical Animals. I will have to think about it. For now, you're stuck here. How old are you?"

Harry smiled. "I'm four years old!" He said proudly.

The snake nodded. "Then you will not be able to see the Thestrals. Follow me." He started to slither off toward the black horse. Harry smiled.
"Okay... But what are Thestrals?" He asked, giving a smile and a wave to the shocked creature. The snake did not see this.
"They are creatures that can only be seen by humans who've seen death. If you're lucky, you'll never see one." They came to a large cave.
"This is the entrance to the snake caves. You'll find all sorts of snakes down there. If an animal besides a snake enters these caves, they are likely to be eaten. Because you speak our tounge, then you may stay for now. You may leave whenever you want, but if you get eaten or attacked, it's on you."

The horse whined and flew off, intrupting everything. The snake who was talking to Harry hissed at the approaching cold.
Harry shivered and through on the cloak in his hands. It was really warm.

A cloaked figure dark as any shadow came toward Harry and brought with it the chill of a thousand year winter storm. Harry watched the figure in fear and awe as it floated toward him.
The snake hissed at the creature and forced himself to grow in size. "Flee from here dementor. This child has been given safe stay. Harm this child and I will gaze upon your last moment! Tell the others of my warning for I will not utter it twice!" The snake hissed protectively. The dementor shot back and let out a sort of growl before leaving.

The baskalis sighed and looked upon the wide eyed boy. "Go to my nest and wait. There's not much we can do until the forest's magic rests on you which could take years. What is your name child?"

"Harry."

"Is there a last name to that, Harry?" The snake asked.
Harry stopped. A last name? Daddy would have told him, right? Was would Daddy say? The four year old racked his brain for a last name.

The only things Daddy called him besides Harry was Messers and Future Maruder. Maruder? Or Messers? Wait! Didn't Daddy say Messairs? What if Maruder was his middle name! People had those! That must mean his name his Harry Messairs.
Harry smiled. Yeah, that sounded right.

"Harry Maruder Messairs." Harry said triumphantly. The snake smiled and shook his head.
"Alright then, Harry Messairs, let's get you settled in. If you ever start understanding the words of other animals besides snakes, I want you to tell me imideatly. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded and followed the baskalis into his new life.