“Ah, Mr Potter-Snape, you’re with us at last” smiled Madam Pomfrey, bustling over and twirling her wand to cast her customary diagnostic spell.

Harry grinned and relaxed into Galen’s coils; he loved the scent of the spirit snake, which reminded him of ripe peaches, the sharp tang of winter and his father’s aftershave all at once. “Hi Galen!” he whispered, stroking the air above the snake’s scales.

“Well, everything seems to be hunky-dory!” Madam Pomfrey said briskly “Now, how about some breakfast?”

“Can I have one of your special yoghurts please” Harry grinned “Oh, and some toast and honey?”

“Of course, Harry. It’s good to see you with a healthy appetite” the Mediwitch said cheerfully, walking over to her office. “I’ll be back in two ticks.”

Harry lay back in bed, smiling over at his sleeping father. His Dad looked much younger when he slept, scarcely older than the Seventh Years, if not for the deep lines under his eyes. Harry’s heart swelled with protective love; although it still felt kind of funny to be able to love someone and say so whenever he wanted, it was wonderful too.

As Harry looked at his father, he noticed a strange, flat piece of leather poking out just under Severus’s chin. A moment later, Harry realised it was a book; his poor Dad must have fallen asleep still reading.

Deciding not to bother his father (like Harry, Severus tended to start awake if he was touched whilst sleeping), Harry reached over and picked up an ancient-looking volume, which was lying on his Dad’s bedside table.

“Secrets of the Darkest Art…” Harry read aloud, his brow furrowing. Why was his Dad reading a book like this?

“Harry James Potter-Snape, just what are you doing with that” cried Madam Pomfrey, setting the tray hovering and marching over to snatch the tome from Harry’s hands.

“It’s Dad’s!” Harry replied, feeling surprised and hurt. “He always lets me borrow his stuff if I want!”

“This is not suitable reading material for anyone, Harry.” The Mediwitch scolded “Your father is doing research not through choice, but because he has to. He would not want you reading this.”

“How do you know?!” Harry snapped back, his insides feeling hot.

“That’s quite enough, Harry!” Madam Pomfrey said firmly, pushing the tray into Harry’s hands. “Now, eat your breakfast!”

Grumbling, Harry took a vindictive bite out of his toast. It wasn’t as if he had done anything wrong, Dad let him read anything on his shelves, Harry didn’t even have to ask. Madam Pomfrey was really mean to yell at him and it was dead rude to snatch, everyone knew that.

It didn’t occur to Harry that these feelings of resentment and anger were in any way unusual for him, nor did he recall accepting a reprimand, from a cool look from Madam Pince to his aunt’s beatings, as anything other than just punishment. Harry felt, in fact, like any other eleven year old who believes himself wronged by an adult. Although Harry had learned to ignore the voices, they had still been there; now, however, nothing whispered that he deserved this, that it was his due. Harry knew he was justified in his anger; the way he had been treated was NOT FAIR.

However, with the sunlight combing through his hair and warm food in his stomach, Harry’s ire soon burnt itself out and, before long, he was dozing in the sunshine, happy as he had been upon waking.

oOoOo

“Harry!” a gentle, familiar voice cut through the sleeping child’s dreams.

“Hmm?” Harry murmured, rolling over and burying his face in the pillow: he was warm and comfortable and didn’t want to wake up.

Severus smiled at his little, dark-haired son and gently shook his shoulder. “Harry! I’ve got someone here whose longing to see you.”

Harry rolled over onto his bottom and sat up, rubbing his eyes “Hmm, Dad?”

A smooth, velvety snout rubbed gently against his jaw and Harry grinned “Reggie”

“I’ll go and see about lunch” Severus grinned and, ruffling his son’s hair, strode into Madam Pomfrey’s office

“FssspssssssSssss” the little python replied, coiling around Harry’s shoulders and snuggling his head against his master’s neck.

“Huh?!”

“Sssssphissssissss?”

“I… I can’t? Why are you just hissing?” Harry demanded, horror creeping into his expression.

“PhissssssSchhssfissfizz?”

“Dad!” Harry screamed, tears streaming down his face “Icanunnerstanreggie!”

“SssschSssssssssschSchssss!” wailed Reggie, frightened and upset.

“Harry! What’s wrong!” Severus cried, dashing to Harry's bedside.

“Reggie’s gone strange! I can’t understand him!” Harry moaned, looking up at his father with huge, tearfilled, green eyes.

*“Waaaaaaaah! Harry not lissstening to me! He only sssssssspeaking two-legs!”* sssschhed Reggie

*“Oh, gods no!”* Severus groaned; his mind was still reeling from last night and the last thing he needed was more emotionally-fraught complications.

“And now you’re just hissing too!” wept Harry, burying his face in his hands.

*“Waaaaaaaaaah! Harry issss crying! Kingy issss ssssssscared!!!”* Reggie sobbed.

“Harry, hush! Calm down!” Severus pleaded, pulling the hysterical boy into his arms. “Hush! We’ll think of something. Please, calm. You’re frightening Reggie!”

*“Woe! Woe! My two-legsssssss! What hassss happened to my two-lessss. No more ssssssssspeak! Woe! Woe!”*

*“Quiet, Kingy! Do not ssssch. Harry will be better sssoon!” soothed, Severus, rocking Harry and, by default, Reggie, who were both now sitting in his lap.

*“Woe! Woe!”* Reggie wailed. Gulping back his tears, Harry stroked his pet’s soft scales and rubbed his cheek against the side of the ssschssing python’s jaw. By degrees, both boy and snake relax, cuddling into Severus and each other and trying to calm their breathing, which still hitched with tears.

“I’ve got a headache!” Harry whimpered finally, pressing his face into his father's collar. 

Madam Pomfrey, who of course, had heard the racket but knew better to intervene, bustled over with two vials of Severus’ stress headache reliever, giving one to the father and spelling the other into Harry’s stomach, lest the very thought of drinking it made him nauseous, as it often did with Severus.

“Madam Pomfrey, I can’t talk to Reggie any more!” Harry whimpered, tears brightening his emerald eyes.

“I know, love. I’m sorry.” The Mediwitch said kindly, summoning a flannel and gently sponging the tears off Harry’s cheeks.

“Ello, Harry! I heard yeh was in here!” boomed Hagrid, throwing open the doors of the hospital wing with large grin bristling his beard. “Ere, wha’s wrong, lad?!” The large man exclaimed, his beetle-black eyes filling with concern as he noted Harry's red-rimmed eyes and tearstained cheeks.

“I… I used to be able to talk to snakes, Hagrid!” Harry said, his voice suffused with sadness “But now I can’t anymore!”

“Yeh were a Parselmouth!” Hagrid said, dropping his box of rock cakes with a clang.  Severus glared at him.

“Yeah” Harry replied miserably, rubbing his eyes.

Horror and empathy struggled briefly on Hagrid’s kind face but, as always, the latter won “Aww, ‘Arry. I’m righ’ sorry fer yeh!”

Harry nodded and sighed. He was sorry for himself too.

“I was thinking, mebbe yeh might like to come and have tea in me hut?” Hagrid ventured.

“I think that would be a very good idea, Hagrid” Severus said, encouragingly: he needed time to think and something to clear his head, not necessarily in that order. “Would you like to visit Hagrid, Harry?”

“Yeah, thanks.” Harry replied, stroking Reggie’s scales.

“I need to do some research, Harry.” Severus said gently “Why don’t you go with Hagrid and I’ll take Reggie to your bedroom, in my quarters?”

“Okay, Dad” Harry sighed heavily.

Poppy came out of her office holding a small, porcelain tureen “Casserole and dumplings, Hagrid. Harry hasn’t eaten very much today, so I thought you might both like to share a spot of lunch.”

Harry looked at the little casserole dish doubtingly; ‘spot’ would be the word.

“Undetectable extension charm, Harry” Poppy smiled.

“That would be grand, Poppy. I love yeh dumplings.”

Severus made a strange sort of snort, causing Harry to turn around in concern. “I think I might be getting a slight cold” The Potions Master said briskly. “Off you go, Harry. I’ll be in my study if you need me.” He gave Harry a brief squeeze and gently unwound Reggie from the little boy’s shoulders.

“Bye, bye, Reggie” Harry said tragically, stroking the python’s head tenderly.

“Ssswiss” Reggie replied sadly.

“Come now, lad” Hagrid said kindly, placing a large hand on Harry’s shoulder. “Let’s blow them cobwebs away. A nice walk and a bit of hot dinner will fix you up nicely.”

Harry smiled up at Hagrid bravely. He had discovered, this year, that what is lost can be found again, if sought, and, with his clever, loving father seeking a cure for his problem, Harry was sure that everything would be all right again soon.