"Massster Harry. What a sssurpissse."

"Adriana. I jussst needed sssomeone to talk to." Harry said flopping down.

"Massster Harry is troubled. I can sssenssse it. What troublesss you?" Adriana circled Harry.

"Draco hasssn't been in classsss. Blaissse sssaysss he isss jussst sssick..."

"But Massster Harry thinksss sssomething elssse." Adriana finished Harry's thought.

Harry nodded and sighed. He laid his head on Adriana seeing as she shrunk herself down to just shorter than Harry. It was a neat little trick she had learnt when Harry returned to his correct age. She wasn't able to officially bind herself to him as a familiar when he was a baby. Once they completed the bond she adapted new abilities and her already existing ones became more fine tuned. She could, if Harry wished, always be with him. Since she was a spirt snake she had the ability to appear and disappear whenever and wherever. It was Harry's choice to let her live as she wished at her normal size.

"Can Adriana help Massster Harry?"

"No. I have to trussst him and Blaissse wouldn't lie to me." Harry sighed. "I better head back for lunch."

"Massster Harry can ssstay. There isss food in the hide out ssstill." Adriana nodded her head at the archway.

Harry laughed at himself. He smiled and stood up. Walking through the archway and into the space, he was able to observe the area fully. It held a king size bed to the far right. It was a four poster with silver and gold curtains. Across from the archway was a biggish desk that could hold two people working on the same paper. To the far left was a love seat. Around the love seat were little trinkets and stuff they had collected. Among which was the stuffed snake Harry loved so much.

"Massster Harry isss sssomething wrong?" Adriana asked making her way inside.

"Jussst thinking Adriana. Thisss placsse hasss changed sssomewhat." Harry shrugged.

"Massster Harry..."

"Adriana leave it pleassse. I'm okay." Harry said cutting of the snake.

He spent the rest of the day completing what little homework he had. When he was done with that he played with Adriana. Occasionally just curling up in the bed. The pair tested out new abilities formed through their bond. Finding new tricks and exciting aspects. Harry soon learned that since Adriana was part basilisk she could change her eye colour to the deathly yellow gaze they were known for. She was unable to do that before their bond was formed but even now that she could she only did it if Harry said. Her eyes are originally a striking violet colour with a bit of a baby, sky blue tinted iris (Colour example above).

"Massster Harry. Adriana hasss sssomething to ssshow you." Adriana said as she circled Harry.

"What isss it?" Harry asked.

"Adriana can walk with Massster Harry in ssschool." Adriana hissed happily.

She left the little space for a few minutes. Harry frowned. Up until this point Adriana had successfully distracted him from his worry over Draco. Harry got fidgety as he waited for his familiar to return. A girl walked in and Harry jumped. He pulled out his wand ready to attack the intruder. No one was surprised to know about this place. His mind running away from him he failed to notice she wasn't wearing anything. The girl put up her hands and smiled at Harry.

"Who are you why are you here?" Harry growled.

"Massster Harry do you mind not hurting me."

Harry's jaw dropped. "A... Adriana?"

"Yesss Massster Harry." She laughed.

Now Harry realized she had no clothes on. His face went red as he grabbed the blanket from the bed. She looked at him funny and he just wrapped it around her shoulders. He now took the time to notice her features. She had rather flat and long features, but for a snake she was way better looking than Voldy. Her eyes were still the same colour. Her skin was an off purple/pink looking almost human, but anyone with a brain could tell she was a creature of some sort. The purple hue in her skin adapted from her under belly. Her face looked like it was dolled up from far, but at a closer look Harry realized the the scales around her eyes simply changed colour. The skin on her cheeks were a more orangey-red colour giving her a natural blush. Basically she had no reason to use make-up. Her ears sat flat against her head and were easily concealed by her hair. Harry gaped as he realized she actually had hair. It was the colour of her outer scales. An almost neon baby blue. She had a crescent moon in the middle of her head that was actually one of her scales. The scales under her eyes and over her nose had become starts giving her a hefty freckle. Harry had to do another double take. 'She has a nose!' He blinked a few times and carried on his observation. At the bridge of her nose she had what seemed to be a piercing. Her mouth was full and her fangs seemed to protrude past her lips. That would make anyone believe she was a vampire. Her neck was long and on the skinny side. Then Harry noticed a movement under the blanket. He raised his eyebrow at her. She smiled and dropped the blanket. Harry would have fainted if her hadn't been accustomed to weird things. She had tiny wings on her back the colour of her hair but slightly darker.

"I found out yesssterday when Massster Harry had Massster Draco were busssy."

Harry blushed at the memory. "Can you only ssspeak the language of sssnakesss?"

"Yesss Massster Harry. Thisss ability isss only one that very few of my kind posssssesss."

"Wow. I ssshould go read more about you." Harry smiled. "Change back now. I have to go, but I'll bring you sssome clothesss for when you ussse your human form."

"Thank you Massster Harry. I will be here asss alwaysss. Will I be able to join you when I have clothesss?" Adriana was smiling a very toothy smile.

Harry smiled at her. "I don't sssee why not. Sssee you tomorrow Adriana."

Adriana hugged Harry and bounced out through the arch. Harry smiled and shook his head. Every day they were learning about hidden abilities spirit snakes had. The basilisk blood Adriana had mostly attributed to her size, loyalty, hearing and the ability to kill with a gaze. Maybe there was more but for the time being they did know. Harry thought maybe the blood was why her skin looked almost human. Nevertheless they would find out eventually. Harry packed his things and walked out. He walked past Adriana coiling herself in a spot of sun and said goodbye. It was near dinner now and if he stayed away longer Severus would have his head. Well if Hermione didn't take it first.

"There you are!"

Harry flinched. "Hey Mione."

Hermione huffed. "Don't 'hey Mione' me when you've been gone the whole day!"

"Honey relax he's fine I told you. Right munchkin? You are fine right?"

"Yes Blaise I'm fine. I was just with Adriana. And finished all my work." Harry smiled.

He was hoping that because he finished his work Hermione would let it be. She did. She smiled and gave him a hug before forcing him to the Great Hall. Once they were inside and seated Harry didn't notice the dungeon bat approach the lot of them. Snape grabbed Harry's plate from in front of him and filled it with all sorts of food. He placed it in front of Harry when he was done.

"Eat it all or you will not leave this table." He barked.

"But Seve..."

"I don't care for excuses. You hardly ate today." Snape placed a potion in front of him. "Drink that before you eat. Maybe next time you wish to disappear you will take a lot to eat." He gave Blaise a look before leaving.

Harry looked at the others and they all shrugged. Snape was watching them intently. That was when Harry's mindset switched. It had been happening since he was turned to a baby and taken care of by people he cared about. It hadn't happened in a while and only Snape knew about it. Harry sighed trying to fight off the urge to cry. He stood up, pocketed the potion and took his plate. He walked over to Snape with his head down. He put the plate down on the side and leaned forward to whisper in Snape's ear. Snape nodded and stood up. The two left the Hall. Almost immediately after the doors closed Harry started crying. Snape sighed. He took the plate from Harry in one hand and lifted him with the other. Harry buried his face in Snape's neck. Snape made his way to his quarters easily.

"This hasn't happened in a while Harry. Do you wish to talk about it?" Snape asked.

"No." Harry pouted.

Snape sighed. "Harry what causes this?"

"Usually when I'm worried. But only when it's like really bad." Harry sniffled.

"What's bothering you?"

"I have a bad feeling something is going to happen."

Harry snuggled into Snape's chest not willing to go on. Snape sighed fearing that he was the one to punish Harry over the edge. Snape fed Harry what little he would eat. Knowing the boy won't eat when he is upset, but worrying that he hasn't eaten all day.

"Harry you need to eat more." Harry shook his head. "You haven't eaten all day."

Harry yawned. "Sleepy Sevy."

Snape sighed. "Okay go to sleep then."

"Don't want to be alone." Harry said.

"Then you can stay with me." Snape said as he rubbed Harry's back in circles.

Harry didn't have the mindset of a little. In fact his mindset was one of need. He never felt love when he grew up so he never really needed it. When he was trapped reliving his younger years he felt the love he yearned for.  Although the memories were shabby at best the feeling never faded. It created this mindset of need. He needed someone, Snape specifically, to comfort him like a parent would. He needed to be a child in the arms of a guardian. He could go to Blaise, but considering the closeness of their ages Harry looked to him as an older brother. Another reason why Snape was the only one who knew about this state Harry was in. Also why they left the Hall. Harry had said that no one else could find out about it.