Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Through the eyes of a Serpent	By : Doragonkage Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 12067 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or the Dracken concept, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling

Chapter List
- 2
- 3
- 4
Oribos turai magia Aiolos - Gift of magic to Aiolos (made up thing)

Magia tollos ve Harry - Magic drawn from Harry (made-up thing)

Chapter Text
”Oh for the love of Hades....” Aiolos cursed while he rummaged through his gear, all of shrunk in the many pockets on his robes.

Pale fingers dug into the left-hand breast-pockets and immediately the were met with wetness and shattered glass. Withdrawing his fingers Aiolos wasn't surprised to find that out of all the vials stored there with cushioning and shrinking charms, the Healing Salve had been the one to shatter when they ported out and tumbled down the dune. Hissing sharply under his breath, as not to stir the unconscious boy that lay on the sands, covered only by the robe Aiolos had moved to blanket the boy.

Getting up onto his feet, a little unsteadily from the blood-loss, Aiolos proceeded to removing his shirt, now ruined by two puncture holes and plenty of blood, and began ripping it apart into usable bandages. All the while the snakes crowning his head moved to press firmly against the wounds, to keep them from bleeding too badly.

Taking two strips out of his sleeves, Aiolos knelt against, grunting lightly from the effort, and slid both strips of fabric into the pocket. Soaking up as much of the salve as he could onto them before fishing them out. Ignoring the specs of glass for now in favor of pressing the soaked strips of fabric against his wounds, thanking the serpents when they moved out of the way and returned to apply pressure again. It wasn't much, but all Aiolos hoped to gain from this, was to stop the bleeding, if nothing else, he had replenishing potions in the plenty to keep on going until he could get them home.

Beneath the scorching glare of the sun, Aiolos heaved a sigh and fell back ungracefully to sprawl on the hot sand. The snakes that were not required to press against the wounds slithered out, spreading all over the warm sands to absorb the heat from it. It was a wonder to Aiolos how tired he felt, and it wasn't even from just the blood-loss he had suffered either. The strain on his magic while enduring Harry's inferno had been considerable with the effort to fend off the flames, yet looking at his robes Aiolos knew just how close to getting burnt he had gotten.

The robes were singed at the ends, the hood now rimmed with blackness, as were the mouths of the sleeves and the bottom of them where the flames had licked away the magic and gotten to the fabric itself. None of it mattered as much as the figure that laid beneath the ruined article of clothing.

Turning his head to the side, much tot he annoyance of the serpents, to look at the lad that was laid but a few feet away. The boys face was mostly peeled off. There was skin only coercing the nose and forehead, some shreds still over the boys right eye. From where the skin had flaked off, smooth blackness had come to replace it, and in the bright light of the sun it was evident that the skin had been replaced by scales, small and deep-black in color. Looking closer boy Aiolos finally took notice of the slight elongation of the boys face. Letting his eyes roam down to the length of Harry's covered form, stopping at the hand that he had forgotten to cover.

While one of the longer serpents began to slither along Aiolos took note of the fingers. Covered in black scales, like the ones on the boys face, his fingers had elongated and his nails grown into and curved into wicked claws. In all their predatory appear, Aiolos could appreciate the kind of macabre beauty of them. Ultimately Aiolos was very well aware of the fact that he would have to bind Harry's magic to contain the transformation to be unleashed when his magical core and physical body could better handle it.

The serpent reached Harry's hand and slithered over it, biting onto the robe and begant ugging it over to cover the boys hand, but what happened next would of been hilarious beyond measure, but for now things just caught Aiolos off guard. The serpent was just about done tugging the sleeve over to cover for Harry's hand was suddenly flung airborne, the long serpent twisting and pulling to itself, only to land smack right onto Aiolos'face.

Neither Aiolos, nor his hair, had noticed Harry stirring, and as the boy opened his eyes and glanced over to his hand, feeling something strange going on there. Once Harry's eyesight had gotten used to the glare of the sun, he'd been shocked to find a large, black snake over his hand, ignoring the fact that it was biting onto the fabric and currently tugging it over to cover-up his hand in favor of surprise and shock.

Pulling his hand up swiftly while scampering to get away from the snake, Harry had sent said serpent flying in a nice arch only for it to land over someone. Aiolos flailed on the ground, trying to tug the panicking snake off from coiling around his face, cursing like a sailor while doing so. By the time Aiolos had managed that and had pushed himself upright he was, yet again, caught off-guard.

Where Aiolos had expected hysterics and panic, there was a quiet, delighted laugh coming from somewhere to his side. Turning to look, Aiolos saw Harry sitting on the sand, holding his robe tightly to his front, like one would a shield. Lips tugged into a grin that revealed a row of pearly white, partially transformed teeth, a smile only a mother could appreciate. Head tilting to the side Aiolos blinked owlishly a couple of times, until he caught his hair chuckling as well.

”What?! What is so funny??” Aiolos seethed, turning his head to try and steal a glance at his hair, which kept moving so the snakes were well out of eye-sight, an act that had Harry laughing a bit more.

”Your snakes...they kept rooting for the one that was on your face, encouraging him on to make it more difficult.” Harry managed to say in-between giggles.

”Ah haa...I know a special someone who is going to take a long...COLD shower.” Aiolos huffed, pouting slightly while crossing his arms over his chest, only to wince as that aggravated his wounds again, the ones that had hardly healed at all, enough not to bleed.

”Wait, YOU can speak the language of the snakes??” Aiolos inquired, taken aback lightly by this revelation, he hadn't thought it possible to pass on bloodline traits like that in a manner such as this, then again the situation had been quite..unusual in which Harry was taken into the bloodline.

”Uhh, yeah, I've always been able to talk to snakes, that's how I got into the Chamber of Secrets in school.” Harry stated a bit wearily, only now taking notice of his surroundings.

”Where are we....and why did you kidnap me?..what happened.” Harry inquired, but surprisingly sounding only slightly afraid, but more curious and cautious than anythign else.

" I'd wager we're somewhere in the Egyptian deserts, yet nowhere near where I had set my portkey to.” Aiolos grunted slightly as he rubbed his wound, coaxing the snakes to squeeze tighter, yet his eyes never left Harry's.

”As for the kidnapping, well I can't very well kidnap someone who is related to me...” Here Aiolos held his right hand up to silence the boys further inquisitions, he had very little energy to spare at the moment, and he needed Harry to ensure that they made it home from here.

”What my daughter the Basilisk, as you saw her, did, was to infuse all of her life-force into you, to eventually take over your body for her own use, but in the process she made YOU her relative, and in such a relative of mine.” Aiolos grunted out, shaking his head to clear his mind, only to return his gaze right back on Harry to convey the sincerity of his words.

”Whatever stroke of luck you had made it so that I was alerted to this change some weeks ago, and have worked tirelessly to locate you to bring you home, to be among your kind, OUR kind.” Aiolos concluded his speech, offering a small smile to the boy, who merely nodded and seemed to be in thought over it all.

”What exactly am I...what are YOU?” Harry asked, eyeing his transformed left hand while his right reached up to touch his face, tensing notably in doing so.

”Of you I do not know, but we will find out to the fullest extend, this I swear.” Aiolos said, nodding his head to seal the deal, so to say.

”As for me...I am the son of Nessa the Gorgon from the realm of Calahra, my father the Wizard Oren, so that would make me a Gorgon and a wizard, but I like to think of myself as more than my HUMAN father.” Aiolos said, his tone of voice growing distant and hateful when mentioning his father and his humanity.

Harry looked bewildered at these revelations, although he did adorn a slight tint of sadness at the lack of information on what had happened and what he had been turned into, a freak even in the eyes of someone that defied all notions of being nothing BUT a freak.

Aiolos took note of the look of melancholy overtaking the boys features, his own frown deepening for a while until he forced it aside to adorn an expression, one he hadn't thought to ever use again, a Mothers Smile. Lips tugging slightly into a smile, while his eyes softened, the look of disinterest and distance melting away to be replaced by compassion and acceptance. Shifting himself slightly so that he now sat cross-legged, Aiolos patted his lap, loudly enough to snap Harry out of his thoughts.

”Harry, would you come over here?" Aiolos said calmly, using the softest tone of voice he could while looking right at Harry, his gaze never wavering even as his condition tried demanding it to.

Harry eyed the male, Aiolos as he remembered, wearily, weighing his options. In one hand Aiolos had made the pain stop, he had removed the evil that had him trapped in his own mind, not to mention that Aiolos hadn't done anything to him as he lay helplessly in the sand, other than cover him. On the other hand he didn't know Aiolos that well, nor his motives for doing any of it, all of it seeming shady, to say the least.

Weighing his options for a while, up until his Gryffindor courage, or foolishness as a certain dungeon bat would gladly remind, had him hesitantly getting up onto his shaky feet to slowly approach Aiolos. Once he got to the man, Harry tentatively seated himself as little on the man's lap as he could so he could bolt away if he needed to.

With Harry sitting on his ankles, more or less, Aiolos moved his arms slowly, making sure Harry saw them reaching out forward from both of his sides before slowly beginning to bend and pull closer. Harry watched as those arms began to close in, tensing slightly, just waiting for the bad to happen, but instead when those arms got close enough to touch, they remained there, a comfortable weight around his chest.

Feeling a weight rest on the top of his head had Harry blinking again, only to find several of the serpents that crowned Aiolos'head slithering about. Some moved to run the side of their face along Harry's cheek, like a playful headbutt, some merely hovered there, hissing excitedly.

The serpents were all masters of their own minds, all able to move independently, and apparently to think for themselves quite fluidly, es evidenced in the barrage of questions they fired. Questions ranging from Who Harry was, where he came from, what kind of a snake he was, why he had appendages at his back before, but now they were gone, what kind of meals did the boy like, on and on endlessly, Harry managing to answer to one when four more came flying at him. An act that had Aiolos chuckling quietly while the snakes eased Harry into relaxing by being their honest, innocent selves.

”Alright boys, that is quite enough.” Aiolos crooned softly, moving his right hand over the snakes, coaxing them away, much to their distaste and complain. The last one to stay was the only white snake, usually hidden beneath the mass of black ones, but now it hovered there, eyeing Harry critically until being coaxed away as well.

”Was that your grey hair??” Harry suddenly piped up, managing to catch Aiolos off his guard for the third time within the hour.

”Umm....uhh...” Aiolos stammered, hardly able to formulate a coherent though at the moment, let alone a playful reply.

”I..suppose, except I've had him for as long as I've lived so...I went grey early.” Aiolos finally replied, chuckling slightly, more so when he earned himself a small giggle from Harry.

”But on a more serious note...I wanted you here to tell you that you need never fear for my rejection, for you are family, forcibly claimed into the bloodline, but family regardless, and I will see to your education, feeding, cleaning and caring as if you were my own, now that your adoptive-mother isn't around to cause trouble.” Aiolos spoke calmly, just hugging Harry loosely, so the boy knew that should he want to leave, he could do so freely.

”I know that this is all hard to take in, but all I ask that you trust me to guide your way in this world, and to offer the best tools with which to operate. You need not ever hold me in more of a value than a teacher, a provider, but I wish for you to learn from me all I can teach you. This is all that I promise you cross my heart and hope to die.” Aiolos said with a certain level of finality, even going as far as to pull away from Harry, frowning slightly as he felt the boy tense briefly.

Moving his right hand over, pressing his index finger against his chest, above the heart and drawing a small, bleeding line diagonally from left to right with the claw on the index finger. Repeating the process from right to left so that he now had an X over his heart to make his promise real as it could ever get.

Harry watched, mesmerized, as Aiolos drew the X over his heart. Looking up into those brilliant blue eyes that still glowed dimly, Harry's lips tugged into a small, hesitant smile.

”I'll...try...” Harry said after a while of contemplation.

Aiolos chuckled slightly and moved his left hand over to gently run it over Harry's head, along the scaled parts and eventually combing his fingers through the hair that had remained on the boys head. Continuing the move of his hand, Aiolos had Harry follow it with his eyes as the man pointed out the food that had been laid out. Two pears, a pair of apples, bottle of water.

”You should eat some, before I will apparate to the Oasis.” Aiolos smiled, hiding away his uncertainty over his own capabilities to apparate at the moment.

Harry looked at the food and then to Aiolos, studying the mans face for a moment before nodding and making his way over to the food. Picking up every item set on the sand, using Aiolos'robe like a sac before marching right back over to Aiolos, sitting right in-front of the man and reorganizing the items.

”You should eat too, you don't look so good.” Harry stated matter of factually, having noted the unusual paleness pushing forward on the mans face.

”Thank you Harry.” Aiolos said with a nod, and a smile, reaching over to grab a pear, wincing slightly as the motion had his side aching.

”How do you know my name??...” Harry inquired before he took a bite of his apple.

”I will show you why once we get home.” Aiolos chuckled around his bite of the pear he had chosen.

While they ate, neither said much, Aiolos due to wanting to let Harry be more comfortable, despite the situation and Harry just because he couldn't pick a topic. After finishing his apple Harry took a sip of the water before setting it aside.

”Just one last question, if I can sir....”Harry said quietly, stealing a glance up at Aiolos, waiting for permission.

”Only if you promise not to call me sir, it makes me sound so old and official, you can ask as many questions as you wish” Aiolos returned, grinning around his bite, earning himself a chuckle from the boy.

”Umm, it's a deal, so...How were you planning on taking me from Hogwarts? If I was never officially made part of your family?” Harry muttered onto his second apple, keeping his eyes set upon Aiolos.

”Ah, I had all the forms necessary, validation from the maker of my family tapestry and authentication from the Officials in Egypt as well as the branch of Goblin bank operating here.” Aiolos mused aloud, leaning forward carefully, reaching over to fish out the shrunken forms from his last, unexplored pocket, enlarging them and handing them over to Harry to eye.

”I had planned on just having these shown, signed and delivered, all in one, and have you on your merry way with me, after explaining everything as thoroughly as I could with so many eavesdropping in on things that do not belong to them.” Aiolos stated flatly, nodding slightly before taking a deep gulp of water to wet his throat.

Harry looked at all the papers presented to him. While some were a bit burnt around the edges, they were all legible, and all stated the same what Aiolos had said, albeit with far more official terms than what his had been. Nodding slightly, while hardly sure of what he read of those papers, Harry handed them over again.

”What now then?” Harry asked, his tone of voice curious, if not a bit skeptical.

”Now, we will gather up our stuff, and you will discard your wand and I will ask to borrow some of your magic to take us home.” Aiolos pointed towards Harry's wand as he spoke.

From where Harry had stored it in his robe pocket, there was a steady stream of smoke rising accompanied by a few sparks. Hastily Harry took his beloved wand out to examine. Where once was pale wood, now raw and burnt replaced it. Cracks traveled along the surface of it, like lightning, revealing the core within. Taking a moment to just look at his damaged wand, until a sudden surge of raw magic zapped Harry on the fingers.

Dropping his wand with a yelp, Harry brought his hand up, cradling his fingers. In the same instance Aiolos moved, or more so his hair did. The long white snake reached around and bit onto the handle of the wand and in one sharp upwards motion the snake tossed it high in the air, and a good thing too.

No longer than reaching the zenith of the arch in the toss, did the wand give a loud crack, accompanied by a rush of raw magic. The pulse traveled down all the way to the ground, pushing at the two seated figures. The wand fell harmlessly onto the ground after that, sticking in the sand in two pieces, not a trace of the original beauty left, just a piece of burnt wood now, a sigh which had Harry sighing sadly.

”Do not worry Harry, we'll go get you a new one, we'd have to anyway because I doubt your old wand would of worked well for you with the new changes.” Aiolos said comfortingly, reaching his right hand out to place it gently upon the boys shoulder.

”I suppose, I just really like that wand.” Harry sighed softly, before beginning to gather up the remaining pear and bottle of water, holding them on his lap while offering the ruined robe back to Aiolos.

Taking his favorite article of clothing, Aiolos looked at it over, but instead of frowning at it the strange man merely smiled and calmly flung it over, waiting for the snakes to gather up in the hood, before pulling it up to cover the top of his head, leaving the robe otherwise open.

”Now...May I borrow some of your magic to use to apparate us both out of this desert?” Aiolos inquired calmly, sliding his right hand down to gently grasp Harry's left.

Harry looked up, but said nothing beyond nodding his head. Carefully Aiolos reached his left hand out and gently took hold of Harry's right hand. Maneuvering their hands so that his were on the bottom with his palms up, while Harry's were on top with his palms down.

”Now, you need to say this clearly after me, and only this first part, ready?” Aiolos asked, his tone of voice carrying over his concern.

This was risky, drawing from Harry's magical reserves just moments after his condition had been stabilized, but at the moment it was the only course of action open for Aiolos.

”Oribos turai magia Aiolos.” Aiolos said calmly, making sure to pronounce everything clearly for Harry.

”Oribos turai magia Aiolos....” Harry repeated, albeit a little unsure, yet he was surprised to feel warmth radiating from deep within, slowly spreading out all the way to the tips of his fingers where it began to gather.

”Good Harry..” Aiolos whispered quietly, smiling like any proud parent would.

”Magia tollos ve Harry.” Aiolos murmured quietly. And shortly after Aiolos began to feel the warmth spreading from where his hands touched Harry's, slowly spreading out to envelop the gorgon entirely.

Harry watched carefully, swearing he could almost see whisks of magic travel between his and Aiolos'arms. With each draw of magic, all careful and calm, or so Harry though they felt, the boy could feel the ache from before slowly returning, and for a while he pushed it back, until he couldn't anymore.

Aiolos kept close watch on Harry, controlling the flow of magic from Harry, waiting until the first sign of discomfort. The very moment Aiolos saw so much as a twitch of an eyebrow he terminated the spell by pulling his hands away, letting the magic settle down.

”That was good Harry, now just breathe and focus, breathe deep.” Aiolos murmured softly, breathing audibly himself to give the boy an example.

Harry nodded and closed his eyes, bringing his hands over his stomach, feeling the discomfort radiating from somewhere there. Breathing in hurt , yet every time he breathed out, it seemed to much less than it had been before and eventually Harry didn't feel discomfort anymore, only slight, dull throbbing from somewhere far away.

Carefully Aiolos got onto his feet, the snakes holding tight around him to keep the makeshift bandages on to ensure the full absorbtion of the salve. Offering his hands to Harry again, he helped the boy up onto his feet, breathing in deep to focus and keep the magic he borrowed in check.

”Ever apparated before?” Aiolos asked, looking down at the boy, still keeping his hold on the boys hands firm.

”No...” Harry replied hesitantly, feeling his resolve crumbling slowly.

”Just remember, when we arrive just keep your knees relaxed to take the brunt of the landing, and while we travel, just trust in me to get you there safely.” Aiolos sighed slightly, first time apparting was always a bitch, and his condition would ensure a distasteful experience.

”You ready?” Aiolos inquired, smiling softly still, more so when the boy nodded.

For a while Harry was left wondering what would happen now. Aiolos held his hands firmly in his, those radiant blue eyes of his closed shut in concentration, yet nothing happened. All of a sudden, however, Harry felt a yank on his entire being, the world swirling and twisting rapidly in such a way that the boy had to close his eyes, clinging tighter to the only solid thing near him, the hands that still gripped his like a vice.

Just as suddenly as it had began the spinning and yanking stopped and they were left standing at the edge of a vacant lot, or so it seemed anyway at the edge of a bustling city, none nearby looking twice as they suddenly popped into being. Here Aiolos let go of Harry's hands and stepped back, bending at the waist to plant his hands at his own knees as a fit of coughing rush over him.

Normally Harry would of showed some form of concern over his companions well-being, or the fact that the both of them were in tattered clothing, just randomly appearing into places, but as it was the boy was busy being doubled over himself, trying valiantly to keep his small snack down. It was lucky that this far out to the edge of the town there weren't a lot of people to see them, and those that did stuck to their own business.

When his stomach settled Harry dared a glance over towards Aiolos, finding the man straightening up, running his hand over his mouth, wiping away a suspicious red liquid from his lips, leaving a faint trace over the corner of his lips.

”I see what you see not, but be welcomed to my sanctuary, open your eyes and see the Oasis.” Aiolos breathed out, the words hardly audible.

Shortly after the words had been spoken there was a small sound, one akin to tiny bells ringing. Looking towards the empty lot Harry had to blink a couple of times as a massive structure slowly came to view.

From the outside the house looked opulent, it had been built out of white, smooth stone that reflected the light of the sun. Large rectangle windows brightened up the interior, although from the ground level one wouldn't be able to see inside.

The house was shaped like a U, with a walkway leading from the gates to the front doors. The top floor was slightly smaller than the bottom floor, leaving both wings of the house with a small balcony to overlook the courtyard.

At the end of the walkway the path widened to fill out the courtyard entirely, with just enough room for the vines to flourish and grow, creeping up along the walls like living decorations. At the centre of the courtyard stood a statue of a winged man, with a stern expression on his face and his right arm up, gripping a sword that was pointed directly at any who walked through the gates.

Behind the statue, a good distance away, was a set of stairs, shaped like a semi circle, that led up to a platform where two more statues stood. These statues depicted a person with a jackals head and a humanoid body, both standing straight with their arms bent to hold their palms against their heart.

Harry watched, bewildered by the sight, for a while until a chuckle from Aiolos brought him back to reality. With a hearty chuckle. The man was standing where he'd been for a while now, leaning heavily against the white stone-wall that ran along the edge of the property, a content smile on his face with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

”Will you be alright??...” Harry asked, brows knitting closer together as he looked at the man, noting the paleness slowly becoming more prominent,

”Yes, once I get to my laboratory, I have a potion there that'll fix this up.” Aiolos said, once he regained himself again.

This boy was a strange one. He could go from looking with awe to being concerned in a heartbeat, he could accept his fate with grace and still be hesitant of his choice, it was all very strange, yet so fascinating. Aiolos shook his head to rid himself of his thoughts, needing to focus now in getting inside and tending to Harry.

Pushing himself away from the wall Aiolos turned towards the gateway to his home. Murmuring something in a language that Harry did not recognize, before turning to Harry once more, motioning for the boy to enter.

”In we go..:” Aiolos said calmly before taking the first few steps through the gateway to head down along the path.

Harry followed after a brief moment of hesitation, but being in a place where he knew no-one had him quickly following Aiolos through the gateway. Upon his entry Harry looked to his left and right, taking note that the house did not connect to the wall, rather there were strips of grass separating the house and the wall, strips that went out to the side and disappeared there, stretching towards the backyard.

Hearing, more than seeing, Aiolos stagger brought Harry out of his gazing again, and the boy picked-up his pace till he got to the right side of Aiolos. Walking side by side, Harry moved his left hand up to grasp the wrist of Aiolos'right one, moving it over to his shoulder, while looking up at the older man, offering his support when the other needed it. After all it was the least that he could do to pay back for having his body and mind back, even if he was kidnapped right from school.

Aiolos glanced down when he felt his wrist being grabbed, and had to stifle a chuckle at the sight. There looking up at him were a pair of the most resolute eyes that Aiolos had ever witnessed on a twelve-year old, so what was a man to do, but to accept the help with grace. Careful not to lean too heavily onto the boy, Aiolos put some of his weight onto Harry. Enough that the boy felt himself being leaned on, and thus have a boost on his pride from it, but not enough for them both to loose balance due to difference in height and weight.

Together the duo made their way to the end of the path and up the flight of stairs to the front door. The doors themselves were a bright contrast to the rest of the building. Massive black slabs of stone, with slightly grotesque carvings on them, that depicted people being tugged, pulled and devoured by various creatures. A sight that had Harry dead on his tracks while bright green eyes looked over the carvings on the stone all the way up. At the top of the door there was a face, or more so a skull without the bottom-jaw present, looking down upon those who sought entry.

”Ah, yes...This piece of art, turned housing element, is called 'The Gates of the Underworld' and he would be the King of the Underworld Hades.” Aiolos explained, after having noticed Harry observing the doors in silent wonder.

”Ah, that's cool...” Harry nodded, looking back from the door and at Aiolos again.

Well before Harry could even ask, Aiolos reached his left hand out and brushed his fingertip along the stone. There was a low rumble and a series of clinking sounds, indicating that locks had been undone. Reaching his left hand out again Aiolos lightly pushed and the stone door opened without a sound, with only a faint thud as it connected with the wall behind it.

The door opened into a large hall, lit by the light filtering in through the many windows. Looking up it was apparent that above this room there was nothing, since the ceiling was well above the height of the second floor. Directly infront of them across from the room were a pair of windowed doors leading out to the patio that over looked the massive backyard. A little ways closer , running along the all in a semi-circle were two staircases leading up to the second floor. From his point of view Harry could see another set of doors leading out, probably to another balcony.

To the left and to the right Harry saw hallways leading out to the different wings, with who knows what there. As opulent as the place seemed to be, it was awfully plain. The stone floors were bare, no carpets anywhere to be seen, the entrance hall had no small furniture, no tables with decorations on it, no nothing. The only piece of decoration in the room was the chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, and the few candle-mounts on the wall, but that was it.

”I apologize from the lack of comforts around here, I will get around to redecorating once we've both rested.” Aiolos sighed, he'd noted the brief flicker of pity that had taken form on the boys features, and Aiolos had felt a stab of...something from it.

Harry looked up at Aiolos, that small smile of his fully on his face again, a good front to distract Aiolos from the gloomy thoughts the man had conjured up from that brief flicker of pity. Steeling his never, before he lost himself completely, Aiolos straightened up, hissing from the discomfort of it. Keeping his hand still on Harry's shoulder, using it to guide the boy along to accompany him to the laboratory.

Turning to the left Aiolos walked down the hallway until they came to a halt in the middle of it. To their right a stairway led down into the darkness of the assumed basement. Aiolos removed his hand from Harry's shoulder in favor of grabbing onto the railing that went along the wall. Easing himself down the stairs into the abyss.

Harry remained at the top of the stairs, looking back where they came from and then to the way the hallway ended in. Harry was in a place he knew not, away from the country he had been born and raised, to a certain degree on the last mentioned. All things taken into consideration Harry was alone, with the exception of Aiolos who, so far, had been supportive in his own way. Now that the man was easing himself down the stairs, Harry spent only a moment thinking on his predicament before deciding to follow, if for no other reason than to offer assistance, should it be needed.

Together the pair of them ventured down the spiraling staircase, ever deeper into the darkness. It was a wonder to Harry how, no matter how far away from the light at the top of the stairs they went, they still had plenty of light to see while they went down, yet looking back or front one could see the darkness just a few feet away.

At the end of the stairs there was a small landing and a door, one that was open all the way to the inside, not that you saw anything beyond the doorway, but the distinct smell of various potions ingredients and previous brewing was quite prominent in the air.

With a quietly spoken lumos, the room before them was light dimly, quite possibly not due to a certain atmospheric implications, but simply because the spell lacked power. Even in the dim lighting in the room, one could clearly see the many shelves full of jars, pouches and small containers, all neatly stacked against the wall. In the middle of the room was the actual work station.

Many vials and tubes were neatly set and ready for use at any moment, those took up the majority of the space at the far side of the large table. A cutting board in the closer to the hand corner, with a mortar and a pestle next to it with the cauldron in the left hand corner. Lastly a worn, old stool stood by the cauldron, the amount of drag-marks left on the floor suggesting that it had been here for quite a while.

Aiolos staggered his way to the stool and shakily sat on it, trying to control his breathing, for who knows what reason. Harry noted just how concentrated Aiolos looked, like a man who has gathered up all of his resolve for something important, yet the paleness over-taking his face suggested otherwise.

”Harry....Could you...go to that cabinet over there...and take the vial right in the middle of the third shelf from the bottom, it is purple in color, a short, round glass vial with the word Regen labeled on it.” Aiolos breathed out, pointing past the workstation to the back wall there the aforementioned cabinet stood.

Harry nodded quickly and moved even quicker to the cabinet, which towered over him quite easily, hell it would of towered over Aiolos too. Reaching his hands up Harry grabbed the handles on the doors, finding slight entertainment in the snake-like design of them before giving a tug. When nothing happened, besides a small groan from the door, Harry tried again and again, tugging until the doors finally opened.

Small shelves lined the interior of the cabinet, even along the doors, and each shelf was stocked with all sorts of potions, each labeled with a neat handwriting. Repeating the instructions given, not wanting to bother the ill man, Harry's eyes darted back and forth, counting the shelves from the bottom and then to the middle of the third shelf.

Right where it was meant to be, stood a bulbous bottle with some sort of a purplish smoke-like substance swirling within it. Taking the vial, as carefully as he could as not to disturb any of the other bottles, Harry extracted what he needed and closed the cabinet with his free hand.

Making his way back to Aiolos, looking at his feet with each step, not wanting to trip on his own tattered robes, or his own feet and end-up destroying the vial and it's content. Watching Harry creep, rather extremely so, brought a small hint of a smile to the mans face, his snakes hissing out in a laugh, much to Harry's ire.

”Here you go.” Harry grumbled, having no appreciation to being laughed at for being extra careful.

”Thank you Harry, I appreciate it.” Aiolos said sincerely as he took the vial and quickly uncorked it, watching the puff of purple smoke erupt from it.

”This is going to taste bad and hurt like hell...” Aiolos groaned, more to himself than anyone else before he took the vial to his lips and downed it in a single go.

Slamming the vial down onto the table, as carefully as one could, Aiolos breathed out a cough and a curse of why all potions that do you good, taste the worse. All that came to a violent halt when the potion began to take effect.

Doubling over and hissing through his teeth Aiolos fell off from the stool, causing Harry to act. The boy knelt down by the writhing figure, frantically trying to come-up with something to do, only to find himself being clung on by the few snakes that could reach him.

Since the longer snakes had uncoiled from around where they held pressure on the wounds, Harry could see the hole his attack had left on the mans side. What had once been a gaping hole, was now a slightly closed wound, that had purplish smoke steadily oozing out of it, the sound of water spilling on hot rocks emanating from the wound as it healed rapidly, pushing out all the excess blood in a macabre display.

For a moment, one that stretched out past the event horizon, Harry remained knelt there, petting the snakes while keeping an eye on the twitching, cursing man on the floor. Without a better course for action than that Harry waited for, whatever it was that was taking place, to pass.

As the pain subsided and the wounds had healed properly, leaving behind only faded marks, did Aiolos finally stop twitching and drew in a deep breath, smashing his palm against the stone floor to solidify his thoughts and push himself upright. Groaning in discomfort Aiolos pushed himself up, not even protesting when Harry scooted over to offer his aid in the process.

”Ah, Thank you Harry, that's always an unpleasant experience.” Aiolos breathed out calmly, wiping away the beads of sweat at his forehead.

”Sure looked like it, sir.” Harry said with a nod, only to grin sheepishly when he earned himself a pointed look and a tap of an index finger against his nose for the use of the honorific.

”Told you not to use that title, but aside from that!...” Aiolos scolded playfully, before putting his effort into getting up on his feet, ignoring the stabbing pain radiating from his sides.

”We should really go get you some new clothes, and furniture for your room, yes?” Aiolos explained, offering his hand to the kneeling boy, while a delighted grin tugged at the corners of his lips.

Harry tilted his head as he grabbed hold of the hand offered to him. Letting out a sharp eep as he was suddenly yanked up to his feet. Once freed Harry rubbing his arm slightly, but nodded anyway, a small smile on hie face. Apparently whatever drive Aiolos had, was of the contagious sort.

”But first, You will need to wash up, and I'll find, and attempt to shrink, some clothes for you to last till we are done.” Aiolos declared, still grinning like the loon that he was.

With Harry on his heels Aiolos trekked upstairs, having to stop a couple of times to catch his breath and ground himself, Harry sticking by until they got to the first floor again. Leading the way over to the entrance hall, Aiolos stopped at the foot of the stairs to glare at the top of them, letting Harry venture ahead before following, holding onto the banister tight for support to make it up the stairs.

”Ugh...I have so many stairs in this place, it's not even FUNNY anymore.” Aiolos whined as he climbed up right behind Harry.

”You are acting oppressive and rude....” The white snake hissed quietly, whispering almost as it lift up to be by the man's ear. While he did whisper, he also made sure to pique the boys interest.

”How so....” Aiolos hissed back in parseltongue, frowning a little, his eyes turning to glance at the white serpent swaying in his peripheral vision.

”You said the choice to stay is his, yet you act as though the choice has been made, further pushing what YOU want onto him.” Hissed another serpent, this one of the black ones.

”You should remember your own stone-set rule....” Whispered a third serpent. The words he spoke causing Aiolos to stop at half-way of the stairs, a frown forming on his face.

”And which rule is that....I have several.” Aiolos huffed, knowing well what his snakes were talking about, but hoping they might mean something else.

”YOU MUST NOT TELL LIES!!” All of the serpents shouted out in unison, all moving to stare-down at the man who's head they crowned, each and everyone hissing in annoyance.

”Very well...” Aiolos sighed out in defeat once he got over the surprise of being shouted at.

”What're you shouting about....” Harry inquired quietly from the top of the stairs, looking down at the scene before him with sadness on his features.

”I was just reprimanded for my behavior by my hair....” Aiolos sighed once he got his hair to move out of the way so he could look up at the boy.

”Do you want to go back after your bath?” Aiolos said, only to wince at the sharp hissing coming from behind him.

”Or actually, do you want to go back...there, are you HAPPY now.” Aiolos growled out at the end, directing his words at the smug looking serpents that moved about behind him.

Harry contemplated the words spoken to him for a while, fidgeting with his ruined sleeves. Looking at his clawed hands, the partially shed skin, the scales. Fully aware of the sort of effect the events had upon his face, head...Hell his entirely body, yet he still missed Hogwarts.

”I...want to go back...” Harry began, his voice betraying his inner feelings, yet he lift his gaze and looked right at Aiolos, taking note of the hurt look he was receiving, but the boy had made his mind, nothing would change it now.

”But I realize that I can't while looking like this, and even if I could go back to Hogwarts, I know that by the time school ended, I'd be sent to my relatives and that would go so smoothly.” Harry finished up, his tone going from morose to downright frigid when mentioning his relatives.

”I'm just going to miss my friends...Ron...Hermione..:Fred...George, Seamus, Dean......”Harry ranted on, pacing nervously at the top of the stairs, oblivious to Aiolos making his way up to him.

”I am truly sorry for your loss of friends.” Aiolos whispered quietly when he got up the stairs and pulled Harry into a firm hug, one that was made just that much more special by his hair snaking about to add an extra squeeze into the embrace.

Harry stiffened into the embrace, a pout set on his features when he was squeezed. Yet in an odd way it was a comfortable gesture. The warmth from the man and the pressure around him from the tight embrace, but most of all the amount of sincerity Harry could almost smell coming off of Aiolos.

”Should probably go to the bath, huh?...wouldn't want to go out looking like I just fought an octopus” Harry finally wheezed out and gave a slight wiggle to indicate his willingness to be let go.

”Indeed so Harry.” Aiolos said with a nod as he let go of the boy and straightened up.

Taking Harry to a room, the very one that Aiolos had cleared of the previous furniture in preparation for the boys arrival. Guiding Harry over to the en suite connected to the room, all the while telling Harry about his room and that the boy had freedom to choose whatever decorations he so wished.

The room was located in the left wing of the house, in the second floor. Connecting to the room were the en suite, a walk-in closet and a double door leading out to the balcony over-looking the backyard, with only a pair of thin, white curtains covering the large windows.

Instructing Harry in how to set the bath and where to find himself a towel before the man headed out to give the boy his privacy, and to fetch them some new clothes.
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Through the eyes of a Serpent