Harry's eyes slowly opened, he found himself looking up at a new ceiling, this wasn't his usual ceiling. Harry looked around at the room he was in, he looked to his left and saw Blaise sleeping on a bed, lightly snoring, just loud enough to not be a bother. The events of last night hit Harry like a bullet to the head, Harry was torn between laughing like a mad man until he couldn't laugh no more or staying quiet and just getting up and out of bed. Since Harry had a roommate, he decided he would rest for a few more moments then go for the second option so he didn't end up waking Blaise.
Harry felt something on top of his stomach and saw Jet curled up on him, the sight brought a smile to Harry's face. Harry knew that some people are afraid of snakes, and Harry understood why, snakes were hardly the cutest creatures around. But Harry didn't care what people thought, he would never get rid of Jet.
Jet was the one friend that Harry had, everyday Harry would wake up and find Jet with him. Jet cared and looked after him, so Harry would do the same. Harry had been tempted to hide Jet but he quickly realized that was a stupid idea, he was going to spend seven years here, it was inevitable that someone would have found out about him eventually.
"Are you awake?" Jet asked in a tired voice.
"No." Harry said with a small smirk.
"Don't be a wise-ass." Jet replied as Harry stood up and placed Jet on the bed.
"I'll be back in a minute." Harry said before he walked into the bathroom.
As Harry went about his regular morning ritual, he began thinking about the events of last night. His introduction to Hogwarts from the train ride to the end of the feast, while having some problems, was magical. Getting taken to the common room was also another interesting experience, but that was when things nearly went down hill. An older student had tried to intimidate Harry, Harry was no stranger to bullies, and that was what the older student was.
What that student didn't count on was Jet objecting to his treatment of Harry, Harry knew that he and Jet had made a big impression last night. Harry still found it hard to believe that he hit an older student with a knockback jinx. Twice! And he had threatened him! He threatened an older kid!
Harry was beyond happy, he was finally in a place where he could get some respect, where he could finally stop being ignored, where he could be himself. Here he would no longer be 'Harry the freak', he would be 'Harry the Slytherin', maybe even be 'Harry, best in his year'. There was a whole new world open for Harry, and Harry vowed to take it.
Harry walked down to the common room, Jet comfortably perched on Harry's shoulders, and found it was mostly empty. Apart from a few older students, when the students saw Harry they stared for a moment before looking away. Harry shook his head at that before sitting down in a free chair, he began reading while waiting for the other's to arrive.
"Someone is coming." Jet hissed after a few minutes of reading. Harry looked up from his book and saw the beautiful third year from yesterday, Angela, walking up to him.
"Hello Mr Potter." Angela greeted as she stopped in front of him.
"Hello, I'm sorry but I don't really know your name. It's Angela, isn't it?" Harry asked.
"It is," She confirmed with a small smile. "I'm Angela Zabini."
"Oh? Are you Blaise's sister?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I am." She nodded. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you reading?"
"I'm just trying to learn more about wizarding culture." Harry admitted. "I grew up in the muggle world so this is all new for me."
"You grew up in the muggle world?" Angela blinked.
"Not by choice," Harry replied, a small scowl briefly appearing on his face. "but yes, it's why I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Since learning about magic I've spent most my time learning about spells, I only started learning about how the wizarding world actually works a few days ago."
"Hmm, perhaps I can teach you." Angela offered.
"Teach me?" Harry blinked.
"Yes, I have grown up in the wizarding world," Angela nodded. "I can teach you all you need to know."
"Hmm," Harry hummed thoughtfully, that sounded like a good offer, too good. "forgive my bluntness but what is in it for you?" Harry asked, doing his best to not sound offensive. Instead of looking angry, nervous or embarrassed, she gave Harry an approving look.
"That's good Potter," She smiled. "most people forget that hardly anything in life is ever free."
"I've been reminded of that fact enough times, now to repeat my question, what is in it for you?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. Jet raised his head slightly as he shifted his body, he was not in a threatening pose but he could quickly shift into one at any moment. Angela took a step back when she noticed the interest she was gaining from the snake. "Don't worry about him," Harry spoke in a soft voice. "he's just protective, especially after last night. He won't try anything if you don't."
"Good to know," Angela replied after staring at the snake for a few seconds. "as for your question, quite simply I want two things, first of all I hope you stay friends with Blaise, I also would like a favour from you."
"What favour?" Harry asked in an interested voice.
"I'm not sure," Angela shrugged. "I haven't decided on one yet, but when I do I know who to go to." She finished with a small smile.
"Hmm," Harry paused for a few moments, "fine but I have conditions that you need to accept."
"Conditions?" She asked, looking slightly surprised.
"Yeah, first of all you will teach me all I need to know about the wizarding world and you'll do it to the best of your ability."
"Naturally, what else?" She asked, she saw Harry's snake hiss in Harry's ear, Harry nodded in response to whatever the snake said.
"Your favour, it's got to be reasonable. I'm not going to do something stupid like give you a large amount of money in exchange for these lessons."
"That's fair enough," She nodded in agreement. "anything else?" She asked.
"Yeah, it's one favour for all of these lessons, not one favour per lesson."
"Agreed," Angela said after a long pause. "anything else?"
"No, that's it." Harry smiled, inwardly he was thinking about what had just happened. He couldn't help but feel like the girl was interested in more than just getting a simple favour. But he was getting his lessons out of it, so he didn't really care that much, he could work out what she wanted later.
"In that case, maybe we can start now." Angela suggested. "Come on, we can begin on the way to the great hall, I'm going there now for breakfast."
"What about the other first years?" Harry asked even though he already stood up.
"It's the prefect's job to escort them to the great hall." Angela shrugged. "Shall we?"
"Lead the way." Harry nodded as he tucked his book under his left arm.
"Are you going to take your snake with you?" She asked.
"Better than hiding him for the next seven years." Harry replied with Jet hissing in agreement.
"Very well." Angela smirked, picturing the chaos that was going to occur when everyone sees the Slytherin boy-who-lived carrying a snake with him.
It was a long walk to the hall in Harry's opinion. The castle was very interesting and Harry drank in every detail he could while also talking with Angela, everything from the moving portraits to the suits of armour. Though that was not the only reason it felt so long, it was also because of the stares. Everyone from the portraits and ghosts to the few students that were around, stared at him. Partly because he was the boy-who-lived, partly because of his scar and partly because he had a snake on him.
Eventually thought they did get to the hall, Harry sat at the Slytherin table with Angela sitting opposite him. Harry also ignored the way that every student who walked into the hall gaped at him when they saw Jet sitting on his shoulders while he casually ate breakfast.
"I'm hungry." Jet hissed.
"What did he say?" Angela asked Harry after taking a sip of her juice.
"He's hungry," Harry translated. "back where we used to live I would just let him hunt rats and eat insects or whatever else he could get his hands...fangs into. I don't know if that would be a good idea here, at least not until I get a better idea of the castle."
"Hmm, you should call an elf and ask them to get him something to eat." Angela suggested.
"An elf?" Harry asked.
"A house elf," Angela replied. "they are basically beings that are born to serve wizards and witches. Some of the more uneducated members of the wizarding world view it as slavery."
"Is it slavery?" Harry asked in a soft voice, hardly wanting to force another creature to work for him like how the Dursley's had forced himself to work for them.
"Not really, house elves for as long as history has shown, like to work. If you tell a house elf they can't work then they'll either wait to work or do something else that counts as work in the meantime. Matter of fact most of them enjoy it. It's like their way of life. Watch this, can I have a Hogwarts house elf come here please?" Angela called.
A second later a creature popped next to them, it was standing between two to three feet tall, with spindly arms and legs and oversized heads and eyes. It had pointed, bat-like ears and rather than conventional clothing, it simply covered its body with a pillow case. Harry was surprised by it's sudden appearance and jumped in his seat, Jet instantly looked defensive and began hissing at the elf in a threatening manner, causing the elf to squeak and jump back.
"It's alright," Angela said, to not just Harry but also Jet and the elf. "this is one of the Hogwarts house elves." She said as she gestured to the elf.
"Calm down." Harry whispered to Jet, who after a moment did calm down.
"You...yous be Harry Potter?!" The elf spoke in his broken English, his voice was high pitched and squeaky voice but also held a large amount of awe.
"Apparently." Harry nodded before giving Angela a questioning look.
"The Hogwarts house elves are in charge of cleaning and making food." Angela informed Harry.
"Hmm," Harry looked at the elf. "my snake friend is hungry," Harry said. "is there any chance you can get him something to eat?" Harry asked.
"O...oh yes!" The elf said after shaking himself out of his shock. "Flipsy be doing that."
"Who the hell is Flipsy?" Harry asked.
"I be Flipsy!" The house elf said proudly.
"Hmm, your English is excellent by the way." Harry said with a straight face.
"Thank yous, great Harry Potter!" The elf's chest puffed up at what he thought was a real compliment. "what does Harry Potter's snakey be wanting to eats?" Flipsy asked.
"Rats, mice, small lizards, meat, anything smaller than him." Harry answered.
"He's also a carnivore," Angela added to the elf. "that means he only eats stuff like meat, not plants." She added when the elf looked confused.
"Oh, Flipsy be having some meats left over, is that be fine for Harry Potter's snakey?" Flipsy asked.
"Yes, thank you." Harry nodded, only to frown when the elf looked like he was about to wet himself. "Did I do something wrong?" Harry asked.
"Great Harry Potter be thanking Flipsy?" Flipsy repeated with disbelief, looking at Harry as if he was a god. "Harry Potter be greater than stories say! I be getting his snake some goods meat!" Flipsy said happily before vanishing with a small pop.
"What did I do?" Harry asked Angela.
"House elves don't get thanked much." Angela replied. "Most don't bother because they don't respect house elves or because they feel like the elf should just be glad to have work." Harry frowned at that but didn't say anything else as a plate with a large bit of meat popped into existence next to Harry's plate.
"I assume that's for you." Harry said to Jet who slid off his shoulder and onto the table before he began eating.
"Hey Potter," A voice called just as Daphne took a seat next to Harry while Tracy carefully sat next to Angela, hoping the key to not bothering Jet was to not move too fast. "you made quite an impression yesterday." Daphne commented idly.
"Really?" Harry asked in an amused voice.
"Yeah," Tracy said just as the rest of the Slytherin first years arrived in the hall. "I heard older students talking about it this morning." She said. The other first years sat slightly apart from Harry and the rest, as if afraid Harry would set his snake on them, all apart from one.
"Hello everyone." Blaise said as he sat next to Angela.
"Good morning Blaise, by the way I wanted to apologize to you." Harry replied.
"Apologize?" Blaise blinked. "What for?" He asked.
"I feel like I might have put you on the spot yesterday," Harry admitted. "if you feel like you were forced to be my roommate and want to separate then I understand."
"I...wow..." Blaise looked very surprised, if Harry was looking at Angela then he would have seen the smile on her face. "...um thanks but it's cool. Really, I don't know any of the other boys and having the snake speaker as a roommate provides me more protection than most," Blaise shrugged. "I still can't believe you blasted the sixth year twice!" He added with a grin.
"What can I say? I just got into the moment." Harry returned his grin.
"Mr Potter," A voice said as Professor McGonagall walked up to him. "is this your familiar?" She asked, looking wary of the snake.
"Yes Professor." Harry nodded.
"Mr Potter, Professor Babbling has informed me and the rest of the staff that this snake..."
"Jet." Harry supplied.
"I beg your pardon?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"His name is 'Jet', Professor." Harry added.
"Very well, if 'Jet' is to stay around then he will need to be kept under control." Professor McGonagall continued. "We hardly need him biting anyone."
"Professor I can promise you that he will only ever bite someone in self defense or to protect me." Harry replied, Jet hissed softly at Harry who hissed back before talking to Professor McGonagall. "He says he promises to not bite someone unless necessary."
"You can speak to him?" Breathed Professor McGonagall, her face going through several emotions, including disbelief.
"Yes, didn't Professor Babbling tell you?" Harry asked.
"She did," Professor McGonagall admitted softly. "but hearing and believing are often too different things. You will be allowed to bring your snake to classes today, though your teachers will be keeping a close eye on you both. At the end of the day I will escort you to meet the headmaster. He wishes to discuss your..." The Professor trailed off, as if trying to think up the right word. "...'friend' with you."
"Ok Professor." Harry nodded. Professor McGonagall nodded in return before walking off. Harry looked back at Jet and blinked when he saw Daphne happily rubbing her finger up and down on the top of Jet's head.
"Jet?" Harry asked.
"I like this human," Jet responded. "I'm keeping her." Jet declared.
"You can't keep a human." Harry objected.
"Why not? You keep me and that owl, why can't I have two humans?"
"...Fair point."
"What did he say?" Daphne asked Harry.
"He wants to keep you." Harry said simply before returning to his food.
"Wait what?"