Chapter Text
Harry had quickly thrown on his robe and new tie, following after Draco into the hallway. Unfortunately, Harry Potter did not know how to wear a tie. He put it around his neck like Draco had his. But it felt weird—like he was surrendering his safety to the silk noose around him.
They passed down the long corridor, trailing towards the Great Hall.
Groups of Slytherin were already making their way up the stairs. Warm and lively.
Harry and Draco passed a shadow beside a column,
“Not so fast, Mr.Potter,” a voice called out. Harry turned to see Snape, looking him up and down.
“Are you trying to embarrass the entire house?” Snape stepped forward, “The lack of finesse is disconcerting.” Harry looked up confusedly at the professor.
Snape slowly pointed to Harry’s tie, which was askew. Harry quickly tried to fix it—but without knowing how to tie it, it just looked a mess.
Snape grabbed the two ends. “A tie is like a snake, this is the head, this is the tail. Watch and remember. I will not repeat myself, boy.”
“Over” Snape takes the head of the snake, crossing it over before carefully wrapping it behind, “Under.” Then, the snake climbs, “Up, down, and through.” before pulling through. He carefully laid the tie and slid it up to fit Harry’s neck.
“Next time I see that tie as loose as a snake, I’ll make you into a tie.”
Harry rapidly nodded, then turned to leave. Crabbe bumped into him. “Watch it—snake.”
Harry’s face turned red. He hissed, watching Crabbe’s eyes turn wide.
Snape sighed, “Mr. Potter, we do not threaten our allies. Five points from Slytherin.” Before Harry can even figure out what he meant by points, he had moved on, grabbing Harry’s hand, wand pointed.
He tapped the wand to Harry’s ring. “You will have Herbology today. Therefore, you may go to the greenhouses. Do anything stupid and I will personally tutor you instead.”
Harry nodded, then walked away, ring heavy on his finger..
By the stairs, Draco is waiting. “When I said guard snake, I meant against the other houses. Now, let’s go, before there’s no food left.”
***
The Great Hall was warm, morning sun filtering through the tall windows. Harry wished he could bask in the warmth for eternity—rather than sit beside Crabbe and Goyle. Draco had gone to get his food, but Harry had found all of it absolutely revolting. Cooked eggs? Meat without any juice? Vegetables? They were an affront to his snake palette.
Crabbe makes a face and Goyle leans in to whisper something.
“You mean to tell me that snake lost us points?” Crabbe looked at Harry pointedly. “Well, I know you are from the muggle world—but you aren’t an actual animal. Slytherin has a reputation, you know. You’ll make more enemies than friends acting this way.”
Harry looked down at his feet. More predators? He wished he could shirk into his snake form and curl beneath the bench. But he was too afraid of breaking Snape’s rules.
He had to try to act human.
But what even was a human?
“If you are talking about decorum, then you two need to get your eyes checked. Have you looked in a mirror? Do you not see how disparaging a fellow Slytherin looks to the other houses? You should do this in the dorms.”
Harry jumped at the sudden voice. Draco was behind him, holding a tray a food, eyes furrowed.
Crabbe and Goyle looked down— a clear sign of submitting. Harry could almost smile at the sight. It seemed Draco was an apex predator.
Draco sat a loaf of bread in front of him. “Eat.”
Harry shook his head.
Draco sighed, whispering, “Crickets aren’t enough. You need to eat real food.”
“Bread isn’t snake food.”
The words went right over Draco’s head.
Draco sighed, “I don’t even know why I tried—snake.”
Harry’s heart panged, but he ignored it. He wasn’t going to let a human force him to eat something that would surely kill him.
Harry felt the stares of others in the hall. The whispers. The glares from the other Slytherin who had heard what he’d done.
Harry slid quietly beneath the bench, head leaning against the warmth of Draco.
Malfoy said nothing, but did not shift away.
“So, Crabbe,” words spoke over him, “Are you ready for Herbology?”
***
The sun shone, warm and effervescent. Radiating heat that made Harry want to curl up on a rock and sleep for eternity. He was following his class to the greenhouses that lay outside the main building. Tropical air seeped out from the greenhouse, humid and kind.
Harry peaked out from behind Draco, looking in. He froze.
Hanging on the wall was a Basilisk skeleton. Long, slender, sharp bones protruding from the spine. It reeked of death, of warning. Harry’s breath caught inside his lungs.
If this is what they did to snakes, he wanted no part in the class.
Harry backed up, but the doors shut behind him.
Students began to line the flower beds, marveling at the pink poofs Professor Sprout called Puffpods. Draco nudged Harry. “Get in line.”
Harry cautiously followed instructions, trying not to look in the direction of death.
Sprout began her introduction, on the plants they’d care for. But Harry just let his eyes fixate in the Puffpods.
They smelled sharp, like crickets or mice, and swayed like prey.
It moved. Once, twice.
Harry’s stomach growled.
Before he could stop himself, his hunger won out, biting into the pod.
Pink fluff exploded in his mouth. Harry coughed, the flavor disgusting.
A couple of students chuckled. Professor Sprout sighed, “Mr. Potter, I see you are eager to engage. Would you mind coming up here? These young mandrakes will be the perfect example for a curious mind. Unlike elder mandrakes, these plants will not scream intolerably to human ears.”
Harry took a cautious step towards his teacher, then another. When he had made it up front, Sprout guided his hands to the soil. “Now, all you have to do is pull it out. No challenge here.” She smiled.
Harry grabbed the root with a tug.
As soon as it was out of the dirt, it began to scream. To everyone else, it was fine. But to Harry— the scream rang in his sensitive ears, vibrating, tugging at his brain.
He tried to cover his ears, but it was too loud. Too much.
Harry shifted to his snake form, slithering away. Away from the sound. Under the door. Out towards the castle.
“Harry, wait!” A voice called out.
But all Harry could hear was the screams.
***
Harry cowered by the main steps to the building, scaled belly against the soft grass.
He took deep breaths and focused on the sun’s rays. Footsteps crunched through dirt, a shadow casting over him.
Harry looked up to see Snape, arms crossed, an annoyed look on his face.
“I swear, child. If it was not for the ring, I would not have been able to find you. Professor Sprout informed me that you ran away from class because of a mandrake.”
Harry cowered before Snape. Not only did he skip class, but he was in his snake form.
Snape didn’t strike. He crouched down, arm extended. “I’m taking you to back to class. You may have missed Herbology, but I will not stand a truant child.”
Harry shakes his head.
“No? Whatever for, Potter. Do you not wish to receive an education? One that people have bled and fought for.”
Harry hissed. “It’s their fault for putting their faith in me. I’m nothing but a snake.”
Snape grabbed Harry, gentle but firm. “If you won’t go willingly, I suppose we will try again after lunch.”
Snape gently stoked his scales. “Remember, Potter. I will not harm a child.”
But that did not comfort him in the least.