Congratulations, Harry! You're a Snape!

Harry had just got the second to the last of his birthday presents. It was a gift sent from Lavender and Parvati: a list charmed to show all the girls that liked him. Each name had a check or checks next to them. A red check meant that they loved him, pink was for people who liked him, black meant they just liked him for vanity. It was quite a long list, he noticed. At the top of the list it said Lifeline, which was what the terrible two had lovingly deemed it.

There was a book from Hermione, The Official Guide to Becoming an Animagus. From most of the Weasley children, he got a small box that was charmed to have up to one hundred times the capacity as the outside. However, it was already filled with all kinds of stuff that would come in handy. From Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, he got the usual sweater and sweets. Hagrid had sent a note saying that his present would be on they way very soon.

When everything was eaten and unwrapped, everybody was out in the backyard, craning their necks upward. Everyone was sipping cocoa as the twins put on a fabulous display of trick fireworks from their shop. As a Draco Malfoy made from fireworks got knocked off his broom by a Bludger, a large tawny owl swooped down. It was holding onto twine that was holding a box's top on, but it seamed to be having trouble holding it. Right once it got down to Harry, it dropped the box and flew away quickly, not bothering to rest.

Harry grabbed the box before the lid came off. The package had holes in it, so he didn't know if he wanted to open it or not. Once everyone was gathered around him, he carefully took off the lid. Staring up at him was a foot long baby snake with emerald eyes that were almost as dazzling as his own. The snake was as jet black as his hair, but it's seamed to shine in the moonlight. It was pretty thick for it's length.

A note from Hagrid was attached to the box. It read:

Harry,

If you're worrying, don't. She's completely harmless and legal. I got her from a Muggle pet store, but they couldn't tell me what kind of snake she is. I've never seen one like her before, so I think she's magical. Ask her for me.

Happy birthday,

Hagrid

He picked up the baby snake and hissed, "Hello, I'm Harry. Do you have a name?" It blinked, as if surprised to have a conversation with a human.

She said, "I don't have one. Are you my new owner? I'd love to have a name."

"Are you familiar with the magic world?" Harry asked.

"Of course! I'm pretty much fabricated by magic. I am unique, can't you see?"

Harry nodded. "Absolutely."

"Harry, please stop with the scary language. You're gonna give me nightmares. So what is it, a he or a she? What's it's name, and what species is it?" Fred said.

Harry broke eye contact with his new pet, and looked at Fred. "No. She. None. None." He grinned.

"Are we supposed to know what that means? It sounds like another different language," said George.

"It means that I'm not going to stop speaking Parselmouth, it's a she, has no name, and isn't really any species. She says that she was fabricated by magic."

Mrs. Weasley interrrupted. She said, "Well, she is very beautiful. Now, let's finish the show so we can all go to bed."

~*~*~*~*~

They stayed in the back yard for a while longer, just watching Fred and George's fireworks. Harry never noticed that at irregular intervals some of the Weasleys gave him side glances. He just sat and held Amaryllis, which was what he had chosen to name his new pet.

Amaryllis was Greek for "lily", and Harry couldn't resist. It was the first name that he came up with, she had said that she liked it. He didn't have to tell her that it wasn't her choice, and that he was going to name her that whether she liked it or not. The name was important to him, so he felt obliged to use it.

After the final firework (the whole Order dancing on a grave that said 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named') everybody stood up and stretched. Fred and George came from the clearing where they had set up the fireworks. Mr. Weasley said to them, "Don't you think it's a bad idea to display all the members of the Order for the whole world to see?"

Fred waved a hand and said, "Any bystander who sees it would just think that it was random witches and wizards celebrating the defete of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." George noded in agreement.

Mr. Weasley opened his mouth to argue further, but Mrs. Weasley was already ushering everyone into the house. She said, "It's far too late, bedtime, NOW!" The eldest Weasleys watched as a stream of red heads and one raven haired boy started up the stairs.

Once they were sure there was no one around, they gave each other grave looks. They took eachother's hands and sat on the couch. Arthur turned to Molly. "Do you know why he looks like Severus?"

Molly looked down at the rug. "No," she shook her head. "I don't, but I think we should call Albus."

"Do you think he's his? I mean, they were married."

"It's a possibility, but they did break up. She married James before she was pregnant, didn't she?"

Arthur sighed. "I'm not too sure... Let's just call Albus. He'll know what to do."

Mrs. Weasley threw a handful of powder into the fireplace. "Professor Dumbledore's office," she said. She stuck her head in the flames and saw Albus Dumbledore sitting behind his desk, eating a cookie and humming a soft tune. His head snapped to the fireplace and he smiled at Molly's head.

"Ah, Molly! How are you?" he said, jovially. His cheerful appearance disappeared, however, when he saw the look of concern on her face. "What's happened?"

At that moment, the door to Dumbledore's office banged open. Standing in the doorway was Severus Snape, who seamed to be paler than the last time Albus had seen him. He had not been at lunch or dinner, and he hadn't seen him since the letter had arrived. Mrs. Weasley turned to him. Severus hadn't said anything, surprised that Albus had been talking to someone. Molly said, "It's about Harry. I think both of you should come over very quickly."

Albus looked to Severus, who noded. Molly's head disappeared and Dumbledore stepped into the fireplace. He threw a handfull of Floo powder down after he said, "The Burrow."

Snape grabbed some powder from a chest on the mantle. "The Burrow," he said as he thought 'to my son'.