Chapter Text
May 7, 1989
“Dad, do I have to?” Harry tugged at his ear. His other hand was curled protectively in his chest, holding part of his familiar, Iris. Iris hissed nonsense in his ear as she curled and settled comfortably around his neck. Harry looked up to see his dad frowning lightly.
“Yes, you do.” Sirius paused. “What’s lesson number one?”
Harry scowled. “He nearly stepped on her! Iris is family too!”
Sirius nodded slowly. “She is. But it was an accident.”
“I know.” Harry reached up and nuzzled his hand along Iris’s head and body. He had finally coaxed her into her smallest size as fear of being stepped on had her instincts running high but her size was much too large for the day to day.
“I startled him,” she hissed in his ear, “I don’t know why though.”
Sirius looked from Iris to Harry before sighing again. “Harry, son. What’s lesson number two?”
“No mercy to those that harm the House of Black.” Harry frowned when Sirius raised an eyebrow.
“Which means?”
“Always protect the family.”
“Draco is very upset, son.” Sirius knelt down, holding his son’s gaze. “He’s your best friend and he didn’t want to hurt Iris. And, she reacted so quickly that he didn’t even have the chance to accidentally do so.”
Harry nodded. “Is he mad at me?” He whispered.
“Not at all. He’s worried you’ll be mad at him forever though.”
“I wouldn’t!”
“Then let’s go tell him.”
Sirius stood and led Harry from his room in Ravenswood back into main parlour, where Narcissa was comforting a distraught Draco. As soon as Harry entered the room, Draco ran over.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Draco had tears welling in his eyes and Harry felt miserable.
He threw his arms around his best friend and said, “I’m sorry! It just scared me, is all.” Draco hugged him back, sniffling. “Iris is okay. She said she startled you.”
Draco then stepped back and grinned. “She did! I heard her!”
The boys ignored the shocked, but delighted gasps of the surrounding adults. Lucius looked smug at the implications. Harry was ecstatic.
“You can speak parseltongue too!” Harry reached up and grabbed Iris. “Iris! Draco can talk with you too!”
“I’m sorry Iris. It startled me when you spoke and I could understand you.” Draco reached out slowly to her and she nuzzled his hand affectionately.
Harry grinned at the adventures they could now go on and conversations they could speak in private. “Too bad Neville can’t speak parseltongue! We could get away with so much at Hogwarts.”
Sirius laughed a sharp barking sound and Harry shared a conspiratorial grin with his dad.