Harry Potter and the Serpents Within

Summary: Harry is settling into living with the last two Marauders in Italy. But when something happens to Draco and his parents; the Potter's fears about the upcoming year at Hogwarts, and the dangers they might face there, become all too real.

Disclaimer: I make no monetary profit from this descent into the Potterverse. The warm fuzzies from reviews are all I need to sustain my muse … and sushi, I love me some sushi.

~*oo*~

Chapter 3: Summer Healing

The Malfoy's spent a week as guests in Harry's villa while their wards were updated. No one not of Malfoy blood could now enter their Manor without a specific invitation, and those who got an invitation still would not be able to enter if they were under any sort of enchantment, spell, or potion.

Draco, however, had elected to stay at Harry's through the rest of summer. He'd suffered such terrible injuries, so recently after those inflicted by the dark lord, that he needed time to heal mentally as well as physically. He'd be fine to return to the Manor, or so he claimed, but he wanted time for the horrid memories of that night to fade, and to remember the lifetime of good memories he'd built up.

Narcissa and Lucius could see how returning to the place of his torture would do more harm than good, as each member of the Malfoy family bore scars from that night. Narcissa now had a scar running up her spine that matched the one running across the chest of her son, she'd come terrifyingly close to never walking again. She also now bore a plethora of thin silvery scars scattered over her torso and arms, Amycus had taken perverse delight in slicing into her once flawless skin while her son was forced to watch by way of Alecto's Petrificus Totalus. This could have broken one who once took great pride in her unblemished appearance (she having never taken the Dark Mark). But, Narcissa was born a Black, and they are made of sterner stuff. She now wore her scars with pride, and her relationship with her son was all the stronger for the pain they'd shared.

Lucius had a thick scar himself curving around his left ear and a spiderweb of burn scars creating a morbid lacy pattern on his right arm to just above the elbow, he'd actually come very close to losing most of his forearm, so severe were the burns. Though his jaw was mended easily as magic countering muggle injuries was always fairly straightforward, magic countering magical injuries was trickier, as lingering spell residue could warp and twist the healing spells one tried to use. This was why he'd nearly lost his hand. His Dark Mark, nothing more to him now than a painful reminder of his blind stupidity, had been on his right forearm. The Incendio had not spared that flesh in its search for fuel to burn, and the magic of the Mark had fought back, and the ensuing magical saturation had nearly lost Lucius everything from the mark down. Now all that was left was a slightly darker line of scar tissue, practically hidden in the labyrinthine twists and curves of scars covering his arm.

Then there was Draco, poor Draco, his broken right arm was healed rather easily, it having only been broken by the force of hitting the doorway, the same was true with his nose and the wound across his forehead (Alecto having kicked him in the head rather than fire a spell at him when he'd rushed Amycus in an attempt to save his mother). However, those limbs that had been cursed by Amycus Carrow were harder to heal. There was truth to the claim that dark magic needed dark emotion to work, and they didn't come much darker than the brother/sister pair of Amycus and Alecto Carrow. His bones had needed removal and regrowth, and the torn and damaged musculature had needed time to heal as the shattered bones had done terrible damage when he had been moved. He'd been bedridden for nearly the entire week of his parents stay at Potter Villa, as his body purged the dark magic and allowed for the healing charms and potions to do their work.

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Harry had needed to be talked out of canceling his group sleepover by Draco. He'd been concerned that his friend wasn't healed enough for that many people and, though he liked the Weasley Twins a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed their company, they'd be the first to admit that they could be a bit much at times. Draco, however, was adamant, he wanted his friends around him and, as a Malfoy, he expected to get his way. He'd nearly convinced Harry to invite Hagrid and Spectra over before saner minds (Remus) intervened, pointing out that the Opaleye was now nearly full grown at two tonnes and, quite apart from not having the proper place to 'house' her, she could easily frighten his new Abraxans. And if a winged horse bolts, they'd be lucky to find it in the same country, let alone the same county.

So, it was that the eleven other members of the Coalition (everyone sans Marcus, who's dark-aligned family would not allow him to associate with Harry outside of Hogwarts) arrived the following Friday for their weekend long sleepover. Many well wishes and condolences were given to Draco before he got fed up and told everyone he was fine and would continue to be so for the duration of the get together. Everyone had a good laugh, healing Draco in a way that spells and magic couldn't manage, and Harry broached the subject of the Animagus transformations. Hermione and Padma, of course, were ecstatic to learn something, not only new, but very difficult. They'd all seen Professor McGonagall turn into a cat, and most of them knew that Sirius was a dog, though few had gotten the opportunity to witness his transformation.

There were holdouts, of course. With a group this large, statistically there were going to be those who didn't feel comfortable turning into an animal. Surprisingly, there were only two who didn't like the idea, though they were happy to help the others along in their quests. Dean, having grown up not even knowing magic was real, just felt this was one step too far, and couldn't wrap his head around actually being an animal. Ernie had a different reason altogether. His mother was a healer and had, perhaps unwisely, told him stories of wizards and witches who'd botched the transformation and were now stuck the rest of their lives as half human half animals. He therefore abstained from the project, and no one could really blame him.

Sirius had ordered copies of the best books that had helped he, James, and Pettigrew when they were learning the actual transformation part of the skill and set everyone the task of reading through them. He also explained the need for meditation to locate the inner animal and the fact that, due to them already having a solid grounding in Occlumency, they were leagues ahead of where a fresh starter would be. A handful of the coalition, Hermione included, were rather annoyed that they'd not be able to choose their animal forms.

Sirius had laughed and teased her good-naturedly, "You think James wanted to be a stag? Or Pettigrew a rat? Your animal is a reflection of who you are, the base instincts of your primitive self. A stag is a leader, able to take control and guide a large group effortlessly, as James was for us. They're also prideful animals and James had quite the ego when we were young."

Within Harry's mind, his father was making noises of denial at the ego comment while Lily was nodding fervently. Harry, therefore, had to focus strongly on not cracking up, knowing it would not make sense for him to do so.

Sirius continued with his impromptu lesson, unaware of Harry's inner drama, "Pettigrew, though, was a scavenger. Lurking on the outskirts of the group, never quite fitting in. Rats are highly mistrustful and will do anything to survive, including betray a friend. They have no loyalties and, while they do live in colonies, it's still every rat for itself when things go south.

"Dogs, however, are fiercely loyal. There are stories of dogs, having been lost, finding their ways back to their masters over great distances. James and Remus are brothers to me, they are Pack, though James has passed beyond the veil, he'll remain my brother forever. Such is Pack, such is my loyalty, such is my base instinct."

Remus clapped a hand to Sirius' shoulder, holding out his other hand for the man to take. Sirius did so with well-practiced ease, pulling the Were into a brief, manly hug.

Remus then took over the lesson, "You'll need to meditate on your inner selves, quite similarly to the way you did when constructing your mindscapes. However, you need to find your center, where ever you've placed it, and focus on those base instincts. I know you've all already constructed defenses within your minds and that some of you have kept your centers, well, centralized, while others have not. Those locations have no bearing on your task and, so long as you know where your center is, you should be able to begin the meditation immediately.

"In regard to the discovery of your animals. It takes everyone different lengths of time for their animals to reveal themselves, getting it first is no better than getting it last. It comes when your animal decides to show itself to you, no sooner, and that is entirely dependent on the animal. Finding your center is the first hurdle and, as you all already know its location?" He received nods from everyone, "Good, then its just a matter of focusing on your center and figuring out exactly what your base instinct is. Once you have that, your animal will come. Now everyone move to the family room, that's the largest, and we'll set you up on cushions for your meditation."

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The coalition spent the next day in Diagon Ally, collecting their supplies, and discovering that their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a man named Gilderoy Lockhart, a man Dumbledore had hired. This information immediately set the coalition against him. However, saner heads again prevailed, and they decided to reserve judgement until he'd proven himself. This reservation was sorely tested when they realized that the man had set his own expensive complete works as course books, for every year.

They also spent the following week up to the First of September meditating and, more importantly, reading the Animagus books that the Marauders had provided. The study was strictly regulated, and they'd lose the books to whichever teacher found them in their possession, their property or not. They were also under strict instruction not to attempt any transformations unless supervised by an adult. After just a few of Ernie's Mum's stories, they were all eagerly willing to agree to the stipulations.

It was with nervous anticipation that the coalition gradually came together on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters with one addition to their group. Fred and George had introduced their shy, slightly overwhelmed sister, Ginny, to the group and she'd been welcomed to the fold with smiles and gentle words of reassurance. She'd not be all alone for her first year and they'd try to help make it a great one for her.

After their reassurances, she was quick to ask for the inclusion of her friend and neighbor Luna Lovegood, whispering to the group that the girl was rather odd but kindhearted and sharp as a whip. Ginny was sure the blonde girl was headed for Ravenclaw and asked Hermione and Padma specifically to watch over her, as Ginny knew that she herself didn't possess the analytical mine needed for the house of the Eagles. Harry mused that Ginny was showing quite the Hufflepuff loyalty to her friend while her brothers claimed she had Gryffindor courage by the boatloads. Not to be outdone, Draco opined that her sly tactics to include the young Lovegood was worthy of any Slytherin, to which the twins fell to their knees in mock-horror and set Ginny to fits of giggles.

They boarded the Express together, taking up three whole compartments, and were all in much higher spirits than when they'd arrived. They were going to have a great year, they'd make sure of it!

A/N: Yes, I know. Two and a half years is a long effing time. For a while there I was completely burnt out on Fan Fiction. I stopped writing it … I stopped reading it … I was done. Then my dad and I started our own novel, and we've been slogging away at that for the better part of two years. A LOT of research goes into writing a genuinely unique novel, far more than fanfiction led me to believe (especially if you're a walking encyclopedia of HP knowledge, like me), and that book was all I could focus on. Believe me, I read each and every one of your comments, and I did want to continue the Fics, but every time I'd sit at the keyboard to write some new content, the words just wouldn't come. I'm truly sorry for the ridiculously long wait you've had to endure and I honestly can't say if it'll get better. I'll make no promises for the speedy arrival of the next chapter, but I do know that this will never be abandoned, no mater how long it actually takes me, "nothing but death will keep me from it." ( there's a little Easter Egg for you, name that movie). I love you all, my readers, and I hope to be a better writer for you in the future. Love, PoE.