Actions

Work Header

Rating:
Archive Warning:
Category:
Fandom:
Relationships:
Characters:
Additional Tags:
Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of Harry Potter's Ever Growing Collection of Family
Collections:
DerangedDeceiver's Favorite Fics, Things to fuel my escapism., Favorite works of mandarijntje, just some incredible hp ff, Crack Done Right, these are so good im in awe, Elais_Finished_Faves, HP Fics that are dear and special to me, 🌑 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 🌑, The Best of Harry Potter, Read & Loved HP Fics, The Bakery’s Best Buns, SRL HP Series Harry Potters and his Ever Growing Family (Merlin the Snake), Harry-centric Harry Potter fanfics, Harry Potter 2nd Year Fanfics, Harry Potter Gen Fics!, Alternate Hogwarts House Sorting AU Harry Potter fanfics 🧙, Fandom Treasury
Stats:
Published:
2023-01-14
Completed:
2023-03-31
Words:
110,138
Chapters:
45/45
Comments:
2,648
Kudos:
7,440
Bookmarks:
721
Hits:
168,742

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Snake

Summary:

What I wanted to write was a quick one-shot that explored the idea of Harry being the biological son of Voldemort, only Voldemort doesn't know he has a son and is also as evil as ever. Meanwhile, Harry is just a charismatic kid with a snake and ridiculously powerful magic.

It turned into a series rewrite.

Here's book two.

Features: a Harry Potter making a ridiculous amount of terrible decisions; an exhausted Remus Lupin that did NOT sign up for this but by god will he be there for Harry anyways; a Severus Snape who didn't actually think this year could be worse then last year and is proven wrong in a big way; Dumbledore being awful; and Harry's snake Merlin, who just wants to play quidditch ONE TIME.

Chapter 1: 1. 1992 Summer Interlude pt. One

Chapter Text

Harry

Harry stands, paralyzed, as Voldemort approaches him- hand stretched out, the dark glint in his eyes the only thing visible through the darkness shadowing his hooded face. Harry can do nothing but stand there as the creature takes a step forward, then another.

“Run!” Harry isn’t sure who said that- it sounds sort of like Remus, or- or Neville? Merlin, maybe? A woman?

Regardless, there’s nothing Harry can do but wait. Wait, and hold his magic close to his chest.

He isn’t sure what he’s more afraid of- the blood soaked figure coming to kill him, or the magic flailing around in his chest.

“Harry,” someone hisses. Ah, that’s Merlin. “Harry, you aren’t breathing again.”

Harry tries to take in a breath, but he can’t- he thinks he’s already taken in as much oxygen as he can. He scrunches his eyes shut, unwilling to stare his death in the face for any longer than he already has.

Suddenly, he feels a sharp sting on his hand, and he opens his eyes as he exhales loudly as his eyes adjust to the darkness of his bedroom.

Harry sits up, feeling dizzy. He reaches a hand up and runs it through his hair- which is soaked in sweat.

“Merlin,” Harry gasps out.

“You were having another nightmare and I had to bite you,” Merlin hisses grumpily, red eyes glowing softly in the dark room. She sounds irritated, but Harry knows her, knows she’s really very worried.

“I’m sorry,” Harry says hoarsely. He clears his throat, then reaches over and grabs for the water bottle by his bed.

“Not your fault,” Merlin admits, coiling around his chest. “You need to tell Remus about this- you’ve had at least one nightmare a night since school ended.”

Harry takes another breath, trying to calm his racing heart. His head is pounding- and the smell of burning plastic isn’t helping anything. “Did I-”

“No, Harry- you didn’t light anything on fire. You never do. You did stop breathing though, which is bad.”

Harry waves her off. Better he stop breathing for a bit then turn everyone and everything into a burning inferno.

“Please will you tell Remus?” Merlin asks, tongue flicking Harry’s cheek.

“I can’t, Merlin- I don’t want to bother him,” Harry says. “It’s not a big deal.”

Merlin doesn’t say anything. She just levels a flat look at Harry and then flops off the bed and slithers out of Harry’s room.

“Merlin, where are- Merlin, where are you going?” Harry asks, peering nervously over the side of his bed. “Merlin, no.”

“Tough,” Merlin hisses back.

Harry groans and hits the palm of his hands against his forehead a couple times, then slides off of his bed.

“Merlin,” Harry hisses.

“Harry?” Remus asks, peeking out of his room. His hair is a complete mess, he has Merlin wrapped around his shoulders, and he’s clearly still half-asleep.

“Sorry,” Harry says reflexively.

Remus squints, then rubs his eyes. “Don’t apologize- are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Harry lies. “Just getting a late night snack- go back to bed.”

Merlin hisses furiously in Remus’s ear. She’s not even saying anything- just hissing. Remus narrows his eyes. He looks a lot more awake now.

“How about I make us some hot cocoa and you tell me what’s really going on,” Remus decides.

Harry hugs his arms around himself, suddenly feeling very small and very tired and very sad. Remus is by his side in an instant, crouched down and putting his hands on Harry’s shoulders. The look of complete and total concern on Remus’s face is what does it- Harry launches into Remus, bursting into tears.

“Hey, hey- everything is alright,” Remus says, rubbing Harry’s back as Harry cries.

Harry just shakes his head, unable to say anything through the tears. He doesn't know where this is coming from, or why it's come on so abruptly, but- there's no stopping it now. Remus lets out a little sigh, then scoops Harry up and begins to take them in the direction of the kitchen. Merlin wraps herself around Harry and Remus, licking Harry’s face.

Remus waves a tired hand and the hot chocolate starts to make itself.

Harry lets out a sniffly little laugh, and when he starts he can't seem to stop.

“What?” Remus asks, sounding bemused.

“Of c-course,” Harry says through his laughter, “Y-you can m-make cocoa w-wandless-wandlessly.”

Remus laughs softly, then moves the three of them to the living room. He sits Harry down on the couch, then sits beside him.

Harry’s laughter subsides, then turns back into crying as he sees Remus’s concerned expression again.

“Have you been having nightmares?” Remus asks softly.

Harry nods, rubbing his eyes. “I’m s-so, so t-tired,” he admits. “I don’t even- it’s o-over. Why am I still s-so scared?”

“I know I’ve talked to you about trauma before,” Remus says, a hint of a smile on his face.

“I don’t w-want it,” Harry says into his hands.

“I know,” Remus says, sounding somber again. “I don’t want you to have it either. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault!” Harry says, looking up from his hands. Remus smiles, and Harry settles back down. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, Harry,” Remus says. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“No,” Harry says.

“Will you talk about it?”

Harry sits silently for a moment, fingers twisting in his shirt.

“Yes,” he whispers.

And he does- he tells Remus about the nightmare, about his fear of losing control and hurting someone, about how he can’t close his eyes without Quirrell’s terrified face flashing through his mind- he even talks about the Dursleys a bit.

All the while, Remus sits and just listens, nodding encouragingly when Harry falters and sipping at his hot cocoa.

Finally, Harry is too tired to go on and Remus gathers him up in his arms and deposits him back into his bed. Merlin slithers down with Harry, coiling herself around him.

“Thank you,” Remus says. “I know that was hard.”

Harry nods, fighting to keep his eyes open.

“Will you tell me if you have another nightmare?”

Harry yawns instead of answering, and Merlin nods very seriously to Remus, who laughs and shoots her a soft smile.

“Thank you, Merlin. Goodnight, Harry. I love you- the both of you.”

“Night, Remus,” Harry hisses. “Love you too.”

Harry doesn’t feel better, not exactly- but he does feel a bit lighter, and for the first time in months, he feels like maybe he can let Remus take care of things- just for now. Just while he sleeps.

Theo

Theo throws another knife, staring blankly as it spins through the air and lands solidly in the middle of the wooden dummy- right where its heart would be. He reaches down for another knife, then sighs as his hands come up empty.

Theo sits up, then swings his legs over the side of the bed and hops down, landing with a little grunt. He limps over to the dummy and pulls his various knives free. If he had his wand, he wouldn’t have to stand up at all- but no, that had been confiscated at the very beginning of the summer.

It’s only been a couple weeks, and already Theo is ready for the school year to start up again. He’s never had… someone like Ron, or Harry, before. What he has with them is mostly beneficial, but Theo’s not sure he likes the part where ‘missing’ them is now part of the equation.

Theo goes to walk back to his bed, but pauses as he hears the dinner bell ring. Well then- nothing else for it.

It takes Theo longer than he’d like to get down the stairs and into the dining hall, and when he does he sees his father sitting at the head of the table, dinner spread out before him. The old man watches impassively as Theo makes his way to his customary seat and sits down. Theo’s father nods, and the two begin to eat.

“Son,” Senior asks after his plate has been cleared. “Tell me- how was your school year?”

Theo looks up, keeping his expression in check as he stares at the old man. “It was fine. I have made powerful allies- and intend to use those connections to uphold the family name, as my forefathers have before me.”

“Hmm,” Senior hums, raising an eyebrow. Theo’s stomach flips. Does he know about Harry? There’s no way- Theo’s been too careful.

Not only that, but if Senior had found out, Theo would likely be dead already- Theo is perfectly aware that Senior considers heirs replaceable if they don’t live up to the family name.

Theo tries not to think too hard about that.

“Very well,” his father says at last. “And the- the Potter boy?”

Theo and his father both know that Harry is no Potter. Ever since that day in the shop- the only time Theo has ever seen his father be anything close to vulnerable, the only time his father had given Theo a shred of ‘friendly’ advice.

“Dumbledore’s pawn,” Theo lies easily. “As anticipated.”

“Is he powerful?” Senior presses.

“No match for our Lord,” Theo lies again.

“Good,” Theo’s father nods, then pushes his chair out. “Dismissed.”

Theo nods curtly and stands up, trying as best he can to mask the limp.

“Son,” Senior calls out. Theo freezes, heart lurching. “Report to the training grounds tomorrow morning for your lessons.”

“Yes, father,” Theo intones.

Great. Theo’s still trying to recover from the last ‘lesson’. He really can’t wait for the term to start up again.

Ron

“And then Harry lit Quirrell on fire and chased You-Know-Who off- it was wicked. I wish I’d been there to see it, but-”

“Ron, who are you talking to?”

Ron whirls around, looking over at where Percy is poking his head into Ron’s room.

“Er,” Ron says.

Percy narrows his eyes, then his face clears as he sees where Scabbers is lying asleep on Ron’s bed.

“Ah. I did that too. Carry on, then.”

“I don’t think I will,” Ron says mulishly. Scabbers lets out a little snort and rolls over.

“You should go help mum in the kitchen,” Percy decides. “You’ve been in a mood.”

Ron sticks his tongue out at his older brother, but Percy has already left.

“Prat,” Ron mutters.

Percy isn’t wrong- Ron has been in a bit of a mood the whole summer, and he knows it- he can’t help it, though. After everything that had happened, with the chess game, and then waiting for Harry to wake up, and then losing the cup like that… there’s a lot on Ron’s mind.

Worst of all, he can’t stop picturing Theo’s blank face as Ron had left the station with his family.

Theo’d warned Ron and everyone else not to write anything to him during the summer, so Ron can’t even contact him to make sure he’s alright. Ron hates it. When he’d first met Theo, he hadn’t thought he’d become friends with the boy beyond protecting Harry.

Ron had been very wrong- turns out, Theo is not only surprisingly fun to be around, but a fierce and loyal friend. Ron had had no choice but to return the favor, and now he’d even say that Theo is his closest friend- right after Harry, of course.

With nothing better to do, Ron scuffs his way into the kitchen, kicking at the floor as he goes.

“Need any help?” Ron asks his mum, who’s whirling around the kitchen. Knives, chopped vegetables, and pots are flying around everywhere.

Molly pauses, looking up from what she’s doing. Her face softens as she sees Ron. “Thank you dear,” she says, smiling. “You can come chop some carrots.”

Ron nods and goes to do as she says, deftly avoiding the flying projectiles as he does. He’s had years of practice with that- they all have. Something is always flying around the Burrow, one way or another.

Ron feels himself start to get lost in the repetitive chore, and relaxes as he lets the chaotic hustle and bustle of the atmosphere begin to take the place of the worry he’s accumulated over the last couple weeks.

Ron lets out a little sigh, then blinks as he sees that the carrots have all been chopped.

“Feel better, dear?” Molly asks, smiling.

“Yeah,” Ron says, setting the knife down. “Thanks, mum.”

“Any time,” Molly says. “It’s what I’m here for.”

Hermione

Hermione stares up at her bedroom ceiling, absently twisting an elastic band in her hands. She’s trying not to think of anything, but it’s not working very well- if there’s one thing Hermione knows about herself, it’s that her mind is always moving.

Her summer so far has been alright- although for that first bit, Harry had seemingly dropped off the face of the planet. Then he’d started responding to her letters again, and everything had gone back to being… fine. Just, fine.

The problem, Hermione reflects, is her parents. She loves them, she really does! They’re just a bit… suffocating. After the whole troll debacle, Hermione had decided to keep the whole Dark Lord thing from them- and still they’re trying to ‘subtly’ convince her into dropping out of Hogwarts. Hermione doesn’t know how much clearer she can make it that that’s not going to happen.

She’s already blown up at them once, which has turned the household atmosphere a tad frosty- it’s her fault, really. They’re trying to reach out, but she needs a little while more to cool down.

“Hermione,” her mum calls from downstairs. “Will you come down here for a minute?”

Hermione continues to lie there for a moment more, then sits up and slides off of her bed. “Coming!”

Hermione walks down the stairs, feeling her stomach lurch unpleasantly as she sees both her mum and dad sitting in the living room, looking serious. She sits down across from them, grabbing a pillow and squeezing it to her chest.

“Mione,” her mum starts.

“Yes?” Hermione asks, licking her lips.

“You know we love you, and want the best for you,” her mum continues. Hermione narrows her eyes.

Her mum takes a shaky breath, then continues, “which is why we’ve decided to drop the Hogwarts issue.”

Hermione stares, then feels a grin spread across her face. “Really? What changed your mind?”

Her dad sighs heavily. “We were talking, and we realized- it’ll be much safer for our little girl to live in this crazy world of ours if she knows how to utilize the tools she has at her disposal.”

“Exactly,” Hermione says, nodding. “And I’ve learned so much already! I wish I could show you- you’d think it’s as amazing as I did in no time.”

Her mum laughs softly. “Trust us honey- we think you’re amazing regardless.”

Hermione smiles.