Severus and Lily came over to where Harry was standing. He turned. "Mum, Dad, this is Keb and his sister, Isis. Do you think…we could buy them? I'll take good care of them, I promise."
"It is alright with me if it is alright with your mum. You will have to keep them in your bedroom in my quarters because you cannot be seen talking to them by anyone outside of your friends."
"It's alright with me, but like Sev said; you're responsible for taking care of them."
"I promise," Harry said. "He turned back to the snakes and asked, "Do you want to live with me at Hogwarts?
"Yesss...it would be nice to live with a ssspeaker," Keb said
When Harry returned to Hogwarts he had two new pets, Keb and Isis. Severus helped him set up their terrarium. The snakes seemed to be happy with their new surroundings.
"Do you like your new home," Harry asked.
"We like it very much, Ssspeaker Harry," Isis replied.
"We will leave them to get used to their surroundings and you, Mr. Potter-Snape need to eat and rest. I will ask Blinky to bring you some lunch and then you can rest for awhile."
After Harry had eaten and was napping, Lily and Severus sat talking. "If we had somehow survived and Potter found out his son could talk to snakes; he would have disowned him."
"Potter's a moronic idiot not to recognize what a wonderful son he has," Severus said. "And it is his loss!"
Harry stopped down to his dad's quarters after class everyday to visit Isis and Keb and talk with them. He cleaned their terrarium once a week and fed them a few eggs a week. Harry had told his friends about his new pets and they all wanted to see them. "I'd like to show you to my friends if you'll allow me to, but I won't be able to speak to you while they're here because dad doesn't want anyone to know I'm a speaker."
"We understand, Ssspeaker Harry," Isis answered. "You may show us to your friends."
The next day Harry brought all his friends to Severus quarters to show them Isis and Keb. Draco seemed especially fascinated by them and asked Harry many questions.
"What kind of snakes are they, Harry?" Draco asked.
"They're Egg Eating Snakes from Egypt," Harry explained. "They eat eggs rather than mice or rats."
"What are their names?" Hermione asked.
"That's Keb and that's Isis," Harry replied, pointing them out.
"Those are good names as Keb was god of the earth and the father of Osiris and Isis who was worshipped as the ideal wife and mother and was the goddess of nature and magic."
Harry smiled. Leave it to Hermione to know that information. She was a walking encyclopedia.
They stayed for a few minutes more, admiring the snakes than left. Severus was seated in the living room, reading his copy of Potioneers' Monthly that had arrived that morning.
"We're going to the library to study, Dad, but I'll see you at dinner," Harry said.
"I will see you then, Harry," Severus replied. He opened his magazine and continued to read. He was glad Potter was staying away and not attempting to bother either Harry or Lily although he had to admit he was surprised that Potter seemed to have given up so easily, but he hoped it continued.
The children were sitting at the Slytherin table that day. They seemed to have started a trend because Severus noticed that there were students from different houses sitting at all the house tables. He went up to the head table and sat down next to Minerva who said, "Care to make our annual bet, Severus?"
"Not at all, Minerva especially since Slytherin has beaten Gryffindor two years running."
"That's only because I had new players last year, but they're seasoned this year so they'll beat the pants off your Slytherins," Minerva replied.
"We will see," Severus replied with a grin. They made their usual bet of a Sickle. "Have you seen Potter around at all?"
"No, maybe he decided to move back to Potter Manor."
"I wonder if the Aurors will have him back. While I am not thrilled with the thought of him being an Auror at least he will be out of here."
"Oh, I'm sure Mr. Black's already made the pitch for him."
He didn't see Lily either, but he knew she liked to cook and eat her meals in her quarters rather than coming to the Great Hall and possibly running into her ex-husband. He was glad she was so close to Ravenclaw Tower so Harry could see her as often as he liked.
Dumbledore frowned as he looked down at the Slytherin table where Harry sat with his friends. How was he going to get Harry to fight Voldemort? Severus had blocked him every way he could in attempting to test Harry's powers and in addition now he had Lily standing in his way too. James and Sirius appeared to be ineffective so it seemed as if it was completely up to him.
The first Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor was held that weekend. Severus spotted James and Sirius immediately sitting with the professors in their box and wearing their Gryffindor scarves. He spotted Harry sitting with all his friends in the Ravenclaw section. Lily was sitting with them. Although the Gryffindors put up a good fight, they were quickly overwhelmed by Slytherin whose training Severus had personally overseen. The game ended with a score of 200 to 350 in Slytherin's favor.
"Slimy snakes cheated as usual," James grumped to Sirius on their way back to the castle.
"No doubt about that," Sirius agreed. "That's the only way they can win is by cheating."
Remus walking behind them only sighed and shook his head. Those two would never grow up.
At dinner Severus sat down next to Minerva and said, "I believe you owe me a Sickle."
"Don't get too over confident, Severus, we can still win the House Cup," Minerva replied as she paid him the Sickle.
Severus doubted that. Not only did they beat Gryffindor at Quidditch, but they were ahead of them in academic points also.