Our Father's Sons // HP

Chapter Four

The Dursley's were ignoring him. That was perfectly fine with Harry, who ignored them right back. Except for meals, he kept himself locked up in his bedroom, reading his new books, trying some spells with his wand, or talking to his new pet.

Hedwig, a small white and black juvenile California Kingsnake, had started speaking to him when they visited the Magical Menagerie. It had been the only snake in the place, and Harry had heard it cursing the owner and it's fellow pets for their noise.

Harry, thinking that it was some kind of talking snake, had eagerly begun a conversation. After all, a talking snake wouldn't be that unusual, after everything he had seen so far. But then he had laughed at something the snake had said and had looked at Professor McGonagall. She had gone quite pale and was staring at him.

That was about when Harry realized only he could understand the small snake.

He had apologized, assuming from her expression that he had done something wrong. The Professor had rallied herself and smiled at him.

"It's alright, Potter," she said. "It's a rare talent, parseltongue. Speaking to snakes," she clarified. "I wouldn't advertise it. But there's nothing wrong with it," she said firmly. "Would you like the snake as a pet?"

"But the letter says -"

"Those are more guidelines for muggleborns," she replied. "You may get the snake, if you wish."

Harry did wish. He bought the snake, as well as an enchanted vivarium for her, and plenty of magically preserved mice to feed her with.

He hadn't told the Dursley's about his pet snake yet. They hadn't been there when he'd arrived home from Diagon Alley, so he had been able to smuggle her up to his room. And as his aunt didn't clean in his room, they had no reason to enter it. Harry was certain that they wouldn't approve of Hedwig, or any pet that Harry had. And he was doubly sure they would hate that he could speak to her.

Talking to a snake wasn't like talking to a person. She was quite intelligent for a snake, but she didn't understand many human things. She liked it when he told her about different kinds of magical serpents, however. Especially the basilisk, which he had read about in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Hedwig was by far his favorite part of this new world. She was his first friend, and she was a good one. And since he could talk to her, he could leave the door of her vivarium open, so she could come and go from it as she pleased. She particularly liked coiling around his arm or his neck and soaking up his warmth.

She had just slithered out of her tank and onto him, and had asked him for a mouse, when he heard the shout from down the stairs.

"Boy! You have visitors!"

It was his aunt. Harry glanced at the door nervously. He didn't know who would visit him. Professor McGonagall didn't seem like she would return or see him before the start of the school year. But he had written to his godfather.

"What is it, Harry?" she asked him, her tongue flicking out to taste the air. "You are afraid."

"I have a visitor," he replied, absently slipping into parseltongue. "I just don't know who it is."

"Take your stick," she advised him.

Harry agreed, grabbing his wand, and left the bedroom, cautiously descending the stairs.

Near the front door were two men. One was obviously scarred, with greying brown shaggy hair, and the other was a bit taller, with neat black hair. They were both wearing wizarding robes.

"Hello?" he asked carefully.

The two men turned to look at him from where they had been apparently glaring Uncle Vernon into submission.