Disclaimer- The only thing I could possibly claim ownership of is the plot for this story. I don't own Harry Potter and never will so don't sue. You won't get anything if you do anyway since I'm poor. So back off.

Chapter Two

Harry woke slowly, clinging stubbornly to the comfortable muzziness blanketing his mind. But despite his best efforts the events from yesterday slowly ran through his mind, waking him more effectively than any caffeine fix could ever hope to. Once the surrealism of what was happening to him had worn off Harry had had an over-due freak out of epic proportions. Eventually, after failing to talk him down, Sirius was forced to hold him still while Snape shoved a calming draught down his throat. He figured the only reason they hadn't just stunned him was because Mrs. Weasley would have chewed them out for cursing a child. Once the potion had taken effect and he was calm again Sirius and Remus had led him to his room and the three of them had a long talk.

Flashback

Harry let himself be led by his Godfather to one of the bedrooms up on the third floor, not even protesting the discomfort brought on by maneuvering up the stairs. He dazedly took a seat on the dusty bed, staring blankly at the two men in front of him. He was barely paying attention when Sirius started talking.

"Listen pup, I know what you're thinking and you're wrong." Sirius said. "I don't care if you're a snake, you're still my little Bambi. As far I'm concerned you're still my little trouble prone pup, you've simply got a nifty new tail and set of fangs."

Harry and Remus both stared at Sirius, dumb-founded by the unexpected level of maturity he had just displayed. Then what he'd actually said made it to their brains and they both broke out in hysterical laughter. Sirius glared at them in mock indignation for a moment before cracking up with them.

Wiping tears of laughter from his eyes as he calmed down, Harry smiled at his crazy godfather, grateful for the mans support. Remus simply gave him a look of fond exasperation before hugging Harry and voicing his own support.

"Like the silly mutt said Harry, we love you no matter what you look like or who you choose to be with." Remus told him in a warm voice.

Once more he smiled beatifically at them, and then the rest of Remus' statement made it through. Frowning in confusion, he pulled away from Remus and gave them both a quizzical look.

"What do you mean who I choose to be with?"

Remus and Sirius both paused and shared a concerned look before turning back to Harry.

"Pup, what do you know about Lamia?" Sirius asked cautiously.

"Only what Snape told me when I woke up in the infirmary." Harry replied, confused.

"Did he mention that Lamia are generally considered dark creatures?" Remus asked.

Harry looked at them in horror at the mention of him being a dark creature before pushing out a squeaky 'no'.

"I was afraid of that. No doubt Dumbledore would prefer you not know that, along with a few other choice facts. Before you can start ranting, you need to realize that being dark isn't actually a bad thing. It just means a proclivity towards being more dangerous and/or violent. Lamia are considered dark for a number of reasons, some of them things that people actually find to be desirable traits."

"Like what?" Harry asked out of morbid curiousity.

"For one they are violently protective of their off-spring, and mates. Children are especially precious to the magical world so a desire to protect your young at all costs is viewed favorably. Another trait considered desirable by wizards is a Lamia's ability to take multiple mates. It actually ensures a larger breeding pool for the Purebloods since a Lamia's nature automatically removes any ill effects caused by inbreeding in order to ensure a healthy clutch. Which brings me to the 'most' desirable trait of Lamia. Their ability to have anywhere from one to seven hatchlings at a time. Wizards as a rule, barring a few exceptions like the Weasleys, aren't particularly fertile, the Purebloods especially. So I'm sure you can imagine why they would welcome the idea of someone having a mate who could produce so many children in one go. There is of course, their longevity which they share with their mates. Many wizards are attracted to the idea of living for several centuries with a beautiful man or woman.

"The other traits that classify Lamia as dark are a bit less attractive, depending on who you ask. Their need to consume blood along with rare or raw meat, is considered unsavory in most circles, and their ability, not to mention habit, to use their beauty as way to entrap the unwary is viewed with distrust and prejudice. There is of course the general stigma against snakes and anything remotely related to them as well. Perhaps the one thing that most classifies them as dark creatures is their tendency towards a rather vengeful temper. To cross a Lamia is to sign your death warrant, for they never forget, and they never forgive. They've been known to demolish entire villages just to get at one person for some percieved slight. The devastation they caused when wizards began enslaving their kind was monumental. No one really protested all that hard when the various ministries allowed them to simply disappear from the world at large. Well, except for the various Potions Masters and Wand Crafters that is."

Harry's mind reeled from all the information that had just been thrown at him. He dizzily thought that Remus could make a living as a proffesional lecturer, with the way he'd been able to toss all that out there. He vaguely noticed that Sirius wasn't faring much better than he was, the glazed look in his eye's telling that he'd been lost before Remus was even halfway through his speech.

Harry froze as part of what Remus had said about Lamia's and children percolated through his mind, bringing the topic that had been bugging him since Snape had mentioned it.

"Remus, Snape mentioned something earlier that confused me, but Dumbledore cut him off before he could explain. He said something about Lamia being incredibly fertile. They were also going on about how rare male Lamia were."

Surprisingly Sirius was the one to answer this time.

"Those two actually tie together, pup. Though I'm sure why old Snivellus would of brought it up. I'm sure they told you how most Lamia are female. There's actually a reason for that beyond some fluke of nature. For reasons that are actually too complicated for me to explain, the magic that allows for Lamia to exist period, generally only targets women. Rarely, and I mean 'rarely', a Lamia, or a descendant of a Lamia, will give birth to a male child who somehow fit's whatever requirements are needed for that same magic to take hold and, voila, instant male Lamia. Usually though any male children they have just take after the father while passing on that bit of their heritage to their female descendants, like Prongs did for you. The fertility part is likely something you don't really want to hear, but I'll tell you anyway since you need to know.

"See, even though you're a bloke, you're still a Lamia, and since their race is predominantly female, that means you get the same bit's as them, with some rearrangment and extra's added. Basically, since I can see I just confused the heck out of you, it means you can bear children."

"Bear children?"

"You know that wizards can get pregnant right?"

"Yeah, but they need to take a specific potion first, right?"

"Normal wizards do, but since you're a Lamia you can get pregnant naturally."

It took him a minute to process that one.

"So I'm basically a boy with girly bit's?!" he nearly shrieked.

That set both of them off, and he had to wait for them to stop snickering before continuing. Luckily it was Remus who stopped first.

"Not exactly cub. You're still very much a boy, your body is simply capable of making the neccessary changes for child bearing without the use of a potion. There's also a point Sirius forgot to mention that ties in with your fertility and being male. For reasons no one has ever been able to find, male Lamia bear children who are at least twice as magically powerful as others. Some of the greatest wizards and witches in history were the children of male Lamia. One notable wizard was Salazar Slytherin. That is, coincidentally, the real reason he could speak parseltongue. It's also the reason you need to learn how to change your form as soon as possible."

"What do you mean?"

Sirius once again picked up after Remus.

"With the way things are right now, pup, coupled with the last few generations of inbreeding, the Purebloods are going to clamoring left and right to claim you if they find out about your inheritance. Those who care about tradition and what not will 'try' to let you choose your own mate, or mates, but most will just see your bloodline and creature status and demand you mate with them. Hell, I wouldn't put it past the ministry to auction you off to the highest bidder if they ever found out. Or they could do even worse and try to turn you into a broodmare to be rented out for anyone they consider 'the right sort'."

As he stared at Sirius in abject horror, Harry felt like he was going to be sick.

End Flashback

When Harry finished puking, and Remus finished scolding Sirius, they all silently agreed to move on to safer topics. They'd explained a few more things about Lamia before promising to provide some books on the subject for him to study. After that they just joked around for a bit before heading down to supper. Now that had been a singularly awkward affair that he could have done without. Nothing killed one's appetite like being stared at like a bug under a microscope by nearly two dozen people. The twins at least tried to pretend everything was normal, joking and pulling pranks the entire time. Not that they succeeded all that well in distracting the others. But they'd tried, and he couldn't help but feel grateful to them for that. He just couldn't understand why everyone had been so damned fascinated. Sure he now had a tail instead of legs, was covered in scales, and was sporting a nifty new pair of fangs, but come on. The way they'd carried on it was as if they suddenly expected him declare his undying love for Malfoy or something.

All except Snape that is. He'd been staring as if he'd like nothing more than to devour him. Harry blushed as he remembered the look on the Potions Master's face. The sheer hunger in his eye's had left him flushed and squirming as an unfamiliar warmth overtook him. He was positive his new reaction to the snarky man had something to do with his being a Lamia, but until he had a chance to go through those books Sirius had promised he was utterly clueless as to why. It was definately something he needed to figure out soon, because it wouldn't take long for the others to notice as intent on watching him as they seemed to be.

Sighing in frustration, he decided it was time to get up. The nice thing about his recent change was that it warranted him a room of his own, so no Ron to bother him. And instead of a bed, since they were a little tricky to manouver, not mention way to small, for his new tail, he had an amazingly comfortable nest on the floor made up of mattresses, dozens of pillows, and several enormous throws. It was soft, and warm, and perfect. He'd curled into as soon as he'd seen it and nodded of almost instantly. He'd had the first peaceful night's sleep he could remember in a long time, and he was reluctant to leave his new haven. But he knew if he didn't get up soon someone, likely Mrs. Weasley, would force him out of bed. Giving one last, full body stretch, he levered himself out of his nest and slithered over to the attached bathroom.

{The nice thing about being more snake than human right now,} he thought sleepily as he brushed his teeth, {is not needing to use the toilet near as often.}

Once again he knew enough about snake's to know that it could take anywhere from day's to week's for 'that' particular need to surface. He just hoped he'd figured out how to switch back to using legs first, or it was going to be highly embarrasing for him. After brushing his teeth and a rather awkward shower, he brushed and tied back his hair before getting dressed. Once more he'd be wearing an over long tunic and vest, though in black with silver scroll work this time. He chose to wear a slightly shorter vest similar to the one he'd worn yesterday, but embroidered with snakes instead of vines. He used a simple leather belt since he didn't feel like trying to figure out the other one this morning.

Dressed and ready to face the day, sort of, Harry opened the bedroom door and slithered out into the hall. He grimaced as he came to the top of the stairway, but made his way down as quickly as possible, trying to ignore the discomfort they caused him. Once that arduos task was over he hurried to the kitchen, hoping everyone else was still in bed so he could enjoy a peaceful breakfast. Luck was only partially on his side as the kitchen 'was' empty save for Kreacher. The ancient, antagonistic elf looked up at him, mouth open, no doubt to say something derogatory, but stopped as soon as he got a good look at him. He stared at him in shock for a moment or two before dropping to the floor, blubbering.

"Exalted Lamia graces poor Kreacher with his presence! Honor's house of Black with his coming he does! Oh great scaled one, how's can lowly Kreacher serves you?!" he practically cries into the floor.

Harry reared back, shocked at the elf's actions and words. He was beyond confused now, and really wishing for those books. Cautiously he crept further forward, wary of what the crazy old elf might do.

"Uh... Kreacher? You do know who I am, right? Harry Potter? One of the nasty halfbloods invading your misstress' home? Remember?" he asked nervously.

Kreacher looked up at him in confusion to match his own.

"Master Potter not a halfblood, but's a Lamia. Lamia pure, they are. House Black remembers Lamia and they's power. Always welcome's in Black Hall's. Kreacher be's a good elf and serve's Master Potter, he does."

Harry blinked a few times, coming to terms with what Kreacher had said. It was rather ironic that all he'd had to do for Kreacher to like him was become some kind of magical snake person. Setting it aside as something to think on later, he focused his attention back on the eager house elf staring adoringly at him. And wasn't that a creepy look on the sour old thing.

"Um, okay. I just came down for breakfast, if that's alright." he said rather nervously.

Kreacher sprang to his feet beaming, babbling about how it was his pleasure to serve, and to sit himself down while he fixed a proper meal worthy of 'Master Potter sir'! Harry obeyed and sat on the provided bench, watching the elf rather bemusedly. It was beyond strange to see Kreacher acting so helpful and polite, and he couldn't quite figure out what to make of it. Being a Lamia was becoming more and more confusing by the moment and he couldn't help but again mentally whine for those book's he'd been promised. There had to be some explanation in them for all of this, there just had to be!

He was shaken from his thought's by the sound of Sirius and the Weasley's thumping down the stairs and into the kitchen just as Kreacher placed a plate in front of him. He took one look at Mrs. Weasley's indignant expression, and the confused looks on everyone else, and mentally groaned. Today was going to be a long day.

A/N- Before anyone starts with the angry reviews full of 'what took you so long' questions, please go read my profile. It will explain everything. If you still feel like verbally flaying me afterward, feel free. This way just saves me from answering alot of unnecesary questions.