Harry Potter The Serpent

Harry arrived in the Slytherin common room, Jet on his shoulders as usual. He looked around, seeing several students sat around the common room.

"There he is." Jet hissed, he gestured with his head to Roman who was sat on a chair and he was eating the food he was given by the elves. Harry walked over and sat on the chair next to him. Roman looked up and noticed Harry.

"Keep eating." Harry told him when Roman was about to stop eating. "You heard me," Harry said when Roman looked hesitant. "eat." Harry ordered. Roman nodded before he continued to eat. Harry did not say or do anything more while Roman ate, once Roman was done with his food and drink an elf popped in and took the plate and goblet away. "What is your major malfunction?" Harry sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I...I beg your pardon?" Roman blinked as he looked at Harry.

"It means 'what is wrong with you?'," Harry explained as he lowered his hand and looked at Roman. "it's an American thing apparently, my sister actually taught me that by the way, apparently she went there one time and ended up punching someone in Disney World. Don't ask. So, as I was saying, what is wrong with you?"

"I don't really know what you mean." Roman replied.

"I will slap you twice across your skinny little face, the seconds slap will be a backhand as well. Yes, you do know what I am talking about. Why on Earth do you want to be my vassal?" Harry asked, gazing at him intently.

"Well...you're a great wizard." Roman began.

"So is Dumbledore but I don't see you going to him." Harry pointed out.

"Dumbledore is old," Roman countered. "he could die tomorrow in his sleep for all we know." He added.

"Fair enough." Harry nodded, conceding the point.

"Look, I need your help." Roman whispered before he looked around. Harry quickly realised that Roman was looking at the various Slytherin students around them and clearly he didn't want whatever he was about to say to be heard. Harry flicked his wrist, his wand appeared in his hand, Harry quickly put up a few spells to make sure the two wouldn't be overheard.

"There you go," Harry said as he placed his wand back in his holster. "nobody will hear what you have to say, so talk."

"Thank you," Roman said in an appreciative voice as he nodded to him. "like I was saying, I need your help."

"What with?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Look, I am desperate, okay." Roman sighed as he looked at Harry. "You know who my parents are, or at least who my father is." Roman said, it wasn't a question, nor was it phrased as one, but Harry nodded all the same. "Everyone knows who my father is," Roman continued. "and everyone hates me because of it. I need help if I'm going to survive the rest of school. Ginny, she's great, but she won't be much help against most of the house. The only other Slytherin's who even talk to me are the Carrow twins but I don't know if they would count me as a friend."

"You need protection." Harry said.

"Yes," Roman answered. "you saved my life before, I need your help."

"What part of me makes it look like I am hero?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "What part of me makes you think that I want to help you?"

"You already have," Roman responded. "if it wasn't for you then me and Ginny would be getting much, much worse than we already have. It was you who stopped the other Slytherin's from doing worse than ignoring and insulting us."

"But that still doesn't explain to me why you want to be my vassal." Harry replied.

"I...will always be judged for who my parents were, but if I was your vassal, I would finally be known as something that I chose to be. Vassal to the great Harry Potter."

"Ease up with the flattery, it won't get you anything, even if I do like the sound of it."

"I'm being honest," Roman responded. "it's not just because you're the boy-who-lived, everyone knows that you're a powerful wizard, everyone is talking about how you know spells that people in the year above haven't mastered. There's more evidence than that, another great example is how you killed a bloody basilisk of all things! I could go to somebody else, but who? The Malfoys are rich but do you think they would accept me out of the goodness of their hearts? You're the only one outside of Ginny who is not judging me for who my parents are and you're the only one I can remotely trust. And I've seen how you treat your vassal, she's happy being your vassal." He said, Harry was tempted to tell Roman that there was more than one reason why Angela was happy as his vassal but he decided against it.

"I let Angela be my vassal because she's old and smart enough to know what she wants, there were also personal reasons that she had that made me accept." Harry responded. "Kid, look at yourself, you're only a year younger than me and you're giving me your freedom, do you really think that this is the best option for you?"

"Yes, I do." Roman said without pausing.

Harry sighed as he looked at Roman, the second year seemed pretty determined. Harry was a big believer in free will, he had only accepted Angela as his vassal because it would have benefited him greatly and she had her own reasons for it which made him want to help her. Roman...well Harry could see the benefits of having the boy as his vassal.

The boy was pretty talented for his age. To Harry he seemed more talented than most of the other lower years, he was definitely the best male student in his year, he had great potential. The kid also had good reasons for wanting to be Harry's vassal, just like Angela had, although they both had very different reasons. Harry was rather impressed that the kid had actually thought it through.

Despite all the reasons why Harry should accept, he was hesitant to do so. Why? Quite simply because it meant that Roman would be his responsibility, it would mean that in return for Roman serving him, Harry would have to keep him safe and happy. Keeping him safe in Hogwarts was a challenge but one that Harry felt like he could deal with, the problem was outside of Hogwarts. Harry wasn't worried about Angela outside of Hogwarts, she was competent and with her family, she was safe.

Roman, from what Harry remembered, lived in an orphanage, which meant it would be Harry's job to provide him with a home since he would be responsible for making sure that his vassal was safe. The problem with that was that the only option Harry could think of was inviting Roman to live with the Tonks family and Harry didn't like that idea. It wasn't that Harry had a problem with Roman, more so that Harry didn't really want to share the Tonks family.

....

Can't wait to read ahead by more than 60 exciting premium chapters.

Then what are you waiting for, join my p*atreon right now.

Link: p#atreon.com/InfinityWeaver (Remove the #)

Free members can unlock 2 chapters.