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Parseltongue- Harry speaking ; snakes speaking

'mind talking/ communicating'

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"20 points for each of you, Miss Bones, Miss Abbot, Miss Granger, Misters Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Malfoy for putting aside your differences and becoming friends," Professor McGonagall's voice called out to them from the quiet hall. She then smiled warmly at them and sat down to continue her lunch. The group smiled at each other and finished eating, preparing for their next class.

At the end of the day, the boys got ready to sleep. Harry changed in the bathroom again, since he didn't want the others to see his scars. After saying goodnight, each went to their own beds and laid down, letting sleep take over them.

Except one.

Though last night he had been spared from nightmares, Harry felt dread, like he usually did on bad nights. He didn't know what to do. He was afraid of waking up the boys, since now he shared a room with them, instead like his relatives going upstairs to sleep while he slept in his cupboard. 

'What should I do, girls?' He asked his two friends. Hedwig had stayed over in his dormitory instead of the owlery.

'Maybe you sshould go the the old lady.' Sicily said. 'She seemed genuinely worried about you and seems to care for you.' Hedwig nodded her approval.

'Hmm, maybe I should. I'll go now.' With that he quietly stepped out of his room and out of the Slytherin chambers. Harry was used to sneaking around, so without much trouble, he ended up in front of Professor McGonagall's office. Light was still coming out from underneath the door, indicating she was still awake. He knocked on the door.

"Come in!" a voice called out from the other side. Harry opened the door to find the Head of Gryffindor grading some papers. After a few minutes she looked up and was surprised to see Harry standing there.

"Mr. Potter! What are you doing out of bed at this time?" she asked. Harry shifted a bit but didn't run out the door.

"Um...sorry for disturbing you...I couldn't sleep, and um...I decided to give you a visit," he said, his eyes filled with caution, yet at the same time hope. Minerva's heart clenched when she thought of the boy's parents and some of her favorite students. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The she looked at him with a rare smile on her face.

"Well then, why don't you take a seat?"

The two spent the next few hours getting to know each other. At first Harry was reluctant to tell the Professor about his home life, but with a nudge from Sicily, he gave her a brief description. He still didn't trust her enough. In return, Minerva told Harry about his parents and their friends. How they used to play pranks, how his mom kept rejecting his dad until 7th year, and more. Harry's mood lifted when he heard those stories. Sometimes he had a small smile on his face listening. 

Eventually, Minerva cast a tempus charm to find it was 3 in the morning. "My goodness!" she exclaimed. "So much time has past! I suggest to go back to your-" she stopped when she glanced at the small figure sitting next to her. His head was on the arm of the couch, and soft snores were coming out of him. She gave the boy a small smile. How he fell asleep in just a few seconds, she would never know. She decided to leave him here, but she did position him so that he would be comfortable and conjured a blanket. Then she went to her own sleeping chambers so wouldn't be so tired to teach tomorrow.

That night, Harry dreamed, for the first time in a long time, about his parents and uncles playing with him with a smile on their faces.