“What is this place” Harry gasped, looking around at the ancient, dusty and very obviously gnawed furniture.

“The den of a werewolf, Harry.”

“A werewolf!”

“Yes, but uninhabited for many years. Come.”

Severus led Harry through the narrow passage way and, having deactivated the whomping willow, across the starlit Hogwarts grounds and before a very large, ugly gargoyle, who, on seeing Severus, leapt aside to reveal a secret entrance to the school.”

“It is keyed to only permit Hogwarts staff entry, Harry.” The Potions Master chuckled, noticing Harry’s all-too-interested gaze.

Preferring to avoid introducing his young son to the wonders of the Room of Requirement or, as the teachers thought of it, “please-the-gods-let-it-remain-a-secret”, Severus led Harry up to a girl’s bathroom on the second floor.

“The entrance is in the girls loo?” Harry asked, giggling.

“Indeed. The founders appear to have been of the belief that girls were rather more… steady than boys and were, therefore, less likely to go on hair-brained adventures.”

Harry nodded “Yeah, I guess.”

“What are you doing in here!” a female voice snapped. To Harry’s surprise, the shade of a young girl shimmered through a lavatory door. She glared at him from behind her thick glasses.

“Myrtle.” Severus said, closing the door.

“Oh, you’re with one of the teachers.” said the girl, irritably batting one of her heavy bunches behind her shoulder “Why are you both here. It’s well past his curfew, you know!”

“Indeed, Myrtle. However, we are on important business.” Severus said firmly “Please could you tell me which sink does not work?”

“Oh? Well, that one there, if you must know.” Myrtle said, pointing to one in the far corner. “Why do you want to know?”

“Thank you, Myrtle.” The Potions Master said in his most final tone.

“Oh, I see! Well, I’ll be going then” said the ghost, sticking her nose in the air and flouncing into her cubicle.

Harry grinned at Severus and walked over to the sink, examining it minutely.

“Hey, Dad, look!” the child said excitedly, pointing to a tiny snake carved into the tap.

“Well done, Harry” Severus smiled.

*“Open, pleassse”*

The tap glowed and began to spin and, slowly, with a ceramic grinding, the basin moved, sinking down and into the wall, leaving exposed a long, smooth pipe, big enough to fit a fully grown man.

“Wow!” grinned Harry.

“I’m going down first, Harry” Severus said firmly “Salazar told me that this entrance was installed sometime in the 1780s by one of his distant relatives, as a short cut. I think it would be prudent if I checked that it is safe for a child.”

“Okay dad.”

Severus carefully lowered himself into the pipe and let go.

It took all of Severus’ presence of mind to acknowledge that stern, mature Potions Masters were not supposed to shout ‘Wheee!”

oOoOo

“This place is awesome, Dad” beamed Harry, staring up at the beautiful sculptures of snakes which lined the tubular stone passage-way. “Look, every one has different stones set into its eyes and, oh look, they each have names carved onto their bases.”

*“Hello Harry hatching, yesss, those sssstatuessss commemorate each of my heirsss.”* Salazar’s statue said, its stone lips creasing into a smile.

*“It… your sssstatue can talk!”*

*“Yessss I do not usually linger here, however. Rather boring. I ssssometimessss come down to talk to Hissssy. There is one for you, you know, a ssserpent ssstatue, I mean. I will sssshow you after the ceremony.”*

“Harry” Severus called.

Harry turned to see that Severus had finished setting up the table, which had been un-shrunk and set with two small copper bowls, with pentigrams on their bases, a silver flagon of Nile water and a little gold dish of sea salt crystals.

“I’m ready, Dad” Harry smiled, holding out his hand.

Severus nodded and picked up a small pot of numbing salve, which he rubbed into Harry’s arm. Whilst Severus carefully slid a needle into Harry’s vein, Salazar called Hissy into the chamber.

“I wonder where the Basilisk is?” Harry said, watching Severus decant the blood into a copper bowl and mix in the salt and water.

There was a hiss as loud as a steam engine *“Behind you, Harry hatching”*

Harry spun round to face an absolutely enormous snake, with shiny, ebony scales bigger than dinner plates and a beautiful, pyriform head the size of a small car. Hissy's black and sapphire striped body was coiled tightly around Slytherin’s statue and, thus, despite his huge size, did not take up very much space

*“Oh Wow”* Harry gasped, smiling up at his father who had darted forward and placed his hands on his son’s shoulders *“You’re magnificent”*

The basilisk chuckled like a foghorn *“I am a basilisk, monarch amongst sssserpent-kind; one doesss not gain ssssuch a title by being sssssssmall and unimposssssing.”*

“What is he saying, Harry” Severus asked nervously.

“Oh, I just said he was magnificent and he told me that he was a king-snake and so he had to be imposing.”

“I think it would be a good idea to ask him if he wishes to begin the binding ceremony” said the Potions Master, forcing his voice to remain calm.

*“Your unblood-father isss frightened”* hissed the Basilisk *“He fearssss for hissss hatchling. How sssssweet. How ssssweet. He doessss not need to fear; I do not eat children, only egg-eating men with biting metal.”*

Harry nodded and, reaching forward, gently stroked the basilisk’s nose. Hissy chuckled *“Good hatchling. We will be long-bonded. Bring me the bowl pleasssse. I do not have handssessss”*

Harry picked up the copper bowl and approached the giant snake. Severus gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain quiet: for the binding to work, Harry had to administer the potion.

*“Carefully, little hatchling. Do not touch my fangsssss”* Hissy opened his mouth, revealing fangs as long as swords.

Kneeling down, Harry reached out and tipped the bowl onto Hissy’s blue tongue.

*“Sssstep back, now, Harry”* advised Salazar.

*“Your magic tastes sweet, pure and clean like the flesh of a young deer”* Hissy psshed softly. *“Bring the other bowl, hatchling of mine; fill it with water and essence of sea”*

“Dad, could you put the salt and water in the other bowl, please?” Harry asked, slightly nervous, himself, now. Although he instinctively trusted the basilisk, who seemed gentle and friendly, his blood was pounding in his veins.

Severus strode up beside Harry and pressed the bowl into his hand. “Here, son.”

“Love you, Daddy.” Harry said, his eyes suddenly filling with tears.

“I love you too, Harry.” Severus whispered, embracing the small boy and holding him tightly.

Taking a deep breath, Harry pulled himself away from his father’s arms and held the copper bowl out to the basilisk.

*“Do not fear, child. I have done thisss ssssseveral hundred timesssss. It isssss quite sssssssssafe” hissed the serpent kindly. He opened his huge mouth and carefully positioned one huge fang over the bowl. A single large drop of venom shone in the candle-light before plopping into the water, turning the mixture a beautiful, brilliant gold.

Harry smiled at his father and raised the bowl to his lips, taking a long sip.

And, clutching at his forehead, collapsed with a harsh, agonised scream.