...Or a third of a chapter, really.

So, I am guessing that, by now, most of you have figured out that I have writer's block. (Gee, what tipped you off?) And I just have to say, I'M SORRY! I am SO SORRY! If I were to meet any of you in real life, I would prostrate myself at your feet and beg forgiveness. I AM SO SORRY!

Unfortunately, that writer's block STILL HAS NOT BEEN BROKEN. It's driving me insane! This one third to half a chapter you see below is all I have been able to write. So, I'm switching tacks.

I do have an outline, and I do know what is supposed to happen in the rest of the chapter, but actually writing it is giving me great difficulty. So, after you read this, could you please review and tell me what you think is going to happen in the rest of the chapter? With any luck, you could help me get my spark back! And then I'll love you forever. And update with a proper chapter.

I am sorry I am so lame.

"Woah, slow down, kiddo!" Sirius laughed as he watched Harrry spoon a third helping of roast beef onto his plate. "I don't know that such a small kid should eat so much - you're gonna give yourself indigestion, hmm?"

Harry froze mid-ladel. "Err, I'm hungry?" Suddenly he glared. "And I'm not small."

Beside Sirius, Remus chuckled good-naturedly. "Of course you're not. He meant to say 'such a cute kid,'" this earned him a glare as well, "But I must say I agree, you're eating quite a bit tonight."

Harry shrugged, flushing. "I just... was hungry? You know, 'cause of all the running...? I did today?"

Sirius smiled. "Worked up an appetite. I completely understand. Why, once, I - " He paused. "Never mind. When you're older, maybe."

As Remus turned to Harry's other uncle and began teasing him about whatever incident he had been about to relate, Harry nonchalantly slid the piece of meat that had caused this entire ruckus into his pocket. He had thought - foolishly, he now realized - that having his Mum and Dad off on a "date" (which was to say, James had all but drugged Lily in his effort to get her out of the house and away from her son for even a single evening) and being left alone with his three uncles as babysitters would mean he could let his guard down a little and sneak extra food to Nagini without being caught. He had based this entire rationale on the near indisputable fact that the three of them were not the most observant lot, except that tonight, for whatever reason, Sirius Black seemed to have decided to open his eyes and pay attention to his surroundings.

Harry huffed, and his Uncle Peter caught his eye and winked.

And that was another thing. Peter had been acting - well, weird - lately. He had taken to keeping a very close watch on Harrry every time he visited; and that was, as of late, quite frequently. Over the last month or so, he had dropped by the Potter household no less than eight times, a huge increase over his customary once a fortnight. He had even begun questioning Harry as to how he was feeling that day, did he get enough sleep, any nightmares, things like that. Harry huffed again: Honestly, it was probably because of that stupid raid again. It seemed to have turned everyone into an over-protective freak - Peter was almost as bad as his mother!

Said man cleared his throat as the teasing between Remus and Sirus threatened to become a full-scale argument (on Sirius's part, at least; Remus still looked pleasantly amused). In his usual Public-Peter voice (for that is what Harry had taken to calling it), he asked, "Er, is shoving all of this to the side and just going straight to dessert completely out of the question?"

This perked Sirius up instantly. "Never!" He gaped as if personally offended. "Just going to dessert is never out of the question!"

Peter flashed the man a weak smile. "Then let's do that."

"I hope you enjoy this," Harry groused as he fished several chunks of meat out of his pockets. "Because I nearly got busted."

Nagini slithered out of her hiding place under his bed, mumbling groggily, "What's that?"

Harry tossed the beef at her. "I said, Sirius nearly caught me taking food for you, so you better enjoy it."

The serpent poked at one of the chunks with her delicately pointed head, tongue flicking out to smell it. "Well, I thank you for this. But you don't have to keep sneaking things for me; I can go several months without eating, you know."

Emerald eyes became comically wide. "Nuh-uh?"

"Of course. Most reptiles, snakes in particular, can do this. Crocodiles can last years."

"Wow..." Harry breathed.

Nagini rolled her eyes skyward. "Yes, wow. My point is, although I am grateful, you no not need to risk inquiries because I do not need to eat."

The boy blinked. He shrugged. "Okay."

There was a silence then, more comfortable than awkward, punctuated only by soft gulping sounds as Nagini swallowed her morsels. At length, Harry murmured, "Nagini?"

The serpent looked at him.

"Why haven't you gone to sleep by now, anyway?"

She looped her coils in the serpentine equivolent of a shrug. "I suppose because the temperature indoors is so much warmer, although I do not think I can stave it off indefinitely."

"Oh."

Another companionable silence.

Then, "Nagini?"

"Hmm?"

"It's sad, isn't it?"

"What is sad, Harry?"

"My first real friend isn't even human."

A forked tongue flickered out in befuddled shock.

Harry stood suddenly, small hands dusting off his black corduroy pants. "I gotta go downstairs now, I think. Peter and Remus and Sirius will be wondering what I'm doing. I'll talk to you more later."

Nagini did not reply.

A/N: ...And that's all I've got. Pretty pathetic, huh? Well, at any rate, I thought I'd take a shot and see if my reviewers can help me pull myself out of this black void of creativity.

Once again, I apologize for the lameness that is me.