An unfortunate incident leaves Draco Malfoy a vanilla ball python. Harry, the only Parselmouth alive, is required by the headmistress to take care of Draco until the three-plus months are up and he becomes human once more.
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A/N: This is a really short chapter, but it was fun to write, and I thought it would be too mean to end on that last chapter. I'll publish another chapter tomorrow!!
Lucius Malfoy strutted out of the stands and stopped right in front of Harry. He scoffed scornfully and plugged his nose.
"What on Earth have you done to yourself, Potter?"
. . .
". . . Er. . . " Harry stammered. "Umm. . . "
Draco stared at his father. Lucius cut an imposing figure in his heavy, black robes.
"Aren't you supposed to be in Azkaban?" Harry mumbled weakly.
Lucius stared at him coldly, and Harry jumped. "Oh God," He gasped, "I didn't say that out loud, did I?
Harry was still stammering. Both Lucius and Draco ignored him. Lucius spoke over Harry's rather pathetic babbling.
"I see you've gotten yourself a snake. Fine creature though it is, I have no idea why you would choose to advertise Slytherin house when you have so sought to do the opposite."
Draco gasped. He didn't know! Or was this a test? A joke?
Harry also seemed caught off guard. He stared at Mr. Malfoy in bewilderment. He finally muttered, "Well, er, Hedwig was lonely, and I, um, thought I should get another pet. I'm a, uh, parselmouth, so I, er, thought I might as well get a snake."
Lucius stared down at Harry for a minute, as though he was trying to make sense of what he had just said. Finally, he remarked, "Your mind works in very confusing ways, Potter."
"Uh, maybe it does! I don't know." Harry rambled.
Lucius rolled his steel-grey eyes at Harry. "I'm here to see Draco, but I couldn't find him at the match. Do you know where he is?"
He really didn't know. Draco was shocked, and it was obvious Harry was too. Lucius had clearly noted Harry's confusion and surprise, for he was sneering down at Harry in disgust.
"My son? Draco? He's been going to your school for the past seven years. Surely your memory isn't that bad? What are you willing to bet, that the Drak Lord's curse did something to your brain?"
Harry scowled at him. "No, my memory is perfectly fine, thanks. And Dr-Malfoy made it pretty hard to forget him. Trust me, I've tried"
Draco was impressed with Harry's acting. A bit too impressed, in fact. Even with the slight slip up with his name, Harry's performance was pretty realistic. Acting isn't something you would think a Gryffindor who was as honest as the day is long, would be very good at. This all made Draco worry that maybe Harry really did want to forget him. Draco didn't really want to think about why that made him so sad, so he didn't.
Harry's slip had not gone unnoticed by Lucius. "What was that you called him?"
"Malfoy," Harry replied stoutly.
"And then what do you call me?" Lucius drawled.
"I don't!" Harry smirked.
Lucius sighed, as though he was disappointed with Harry's behavior. "You still haven't answered my question, Potter."
"What- Oh! Yeah!" Harry prattled. Draco and Lucius both noted his evasive techniques immediately, and Lucius called him out on them.
"Stop waffling, Potter. I see no reason why you would have anything to hide when it comes to my son."
There was a sharp edge to Lucius's voice, and the way he emphasized the word 'you', left no doubt as to his meaning. Harry seemed to shrink. Then he suddenly stood up and glared at Draco's father.
"I don't see what you're so concerned about. Are you worried that your own son might not be listening to you?"
Harry's emphasis hit home with Lucius. His face twisted up with fury, and he looked about ready to hit the insolent Harry over the head with his famous cane. He calmed himself though, and when he opened his eyes again, his face was the picture of calm.
"Since you seem unable to inform me of my son's location, I shall have to visit the Headmistress. It's not much out of my way, for I have a few words for her anyway," Lucius Malfoy drawled, staring pointedly at Harry, letting his eyes drift over his now very messy hair and down to his purple skin. He wrinkled his nose theatrically.
Harry winced and gave Lucius a very forced smile. "I'm sure she'll appreciate your insight."
Lucius smirked, and strode away.
A/N: 2k reads!! you guys are awesome!
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