No more lies (To Victory)

CHAPTER 9

°°••°°

"What in the name of Merlin is going on here?"

Harry and Tom froze simultaneously, their previous playful mood forgotten, and then-

looked up to see Snape glaring at them. 

Snape.

And there was someone standing behind him.

Oh, fuck.

Holy bluggering fuck, now they're done for.

How could they be so careless? Allow themselves to be caught?!?

The boys stood up quickly, their minds going a thousand miles an hour to find a way out of this mess, but then Tom froze as his eyes landed on the person who took a step forward from behind Snape and his face was illuminated by the light.

Tom stared into the eyes of one and only Theodeus Nott's, his former classmate's.

One of his first Knights’.

In turn, the older wizard's face turned white as he, too, spotted the boy standing next to Harry, recognition and disbelief glinting in his eyes.

If he was a lesser man, he'd be gaping.

" Well ?" Snape snapped again, not having the patience needed to deal with Potter and his possible… conquests. Who else could the boy be, considering the position he found them in? But… Severus frowned. "Who are you?" he asked, staring at Tom. He knew all of his students, and this one he hadn't seen before. Especially considering he was wearing Hogwarts uniform.

"Obliviate them," Tom hissed, and Snape looked startled at the clear command in his voice. It was of someone who was used to being obeyed without a question.

"My- Lord?" Nott mouthed in disbelief, still not daring to believe his own eyes. Perhaps they were playing tricks on him.

Tom smirked and offered a slight nod, confirming the older man’s suspicions.

Immediately, Nott bowed , still wide-eyed as if he couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. It was bizarre.

Bordering on impossible.

But who was he to question his Lord and his motives? His actions?

If he was here, like this, then he would not interfere with whatever was going on. Nott knew better than that.

Snape jerked as Tom's words finally registered in his mind and reached for his wand, but Harry's magic rose and snapped at both of the wizards, freezing them in place.

"Mr Potter, I could have you expelled for attacking a teacher. Release me at once!" Snape hissed, hiding his internal panic when the only part he could move was his head.

Being stunned by a bloody fourth year student, no less. The humiliation alone...

"No need for threats, Severus. You won't remember this," Tom said, and Snape glared daggers at him. How dare a student threaten him? Be so… familial , as if they were on the same level? Even above -

"Theodeus-"

"My Lord," the man responded reverently with utter devotion in his voice, and Snape blanched .

Tom smirked, enjoying the professor’s shock profusely. It’s not like he got to interact with much of anyone these days, so this was precious.

"Yes, yes, how unfortunate that you must see me now," Tom tutted. "However, it's too dangerous for you to keep this information. I will not risk you exposing Harry."

Both adults' eyes wandered to the boy.

Harry offered them a smirk of his own. A cold, predatory version of it, that's meant to make others run.

"Potter? You and-" Snape looked at Tom with disbelieving eyes. However, he didn't dare to voice his fears, considering who was - potentially - standing in front of him.

Severus Dark Mark flared painfully and his face lost all the remaining colour.

If not for Harry's spell, he would've crumbled to his knees.

"My Lord?" he asked fearfully, even though his brain refused to accept this boy as the most feared Dark Lord in history. His Lord.

Who he just found lying on top of Harry bloody Potter.

He blatantly refused to think about any and all meanings of that .

"Very good, Severus," Tom walked around the frozen wizards, sending Harry an amused look.

He may not be the one that Marked them, but his and his older counterparts' magic and soul were the same. 

He was their Lord too. 

"My Lord, how-" Nott seemed to be speechless. And elated. 

Perhaps because he hasn't seen Tom Riddle since his school days.

Not a version like this. 

No, it was always Lord Voldemort after.

He was missing the signature red eyes too. He looked… human.

"The less you know the better, Theodeus. For your own safety and for ours. Harry?" He looked at the boy and they shared a long conspiring look. Harry smirked and pulled out his wand.

"I'd rather you obliviate them, Tom. I'd rather not accidentally wipe their whole memory. That would be highly unfortunate."

Snape was startled. "Potter, are you out of your mind?" he hissed, failing to hide his rising panic. This, what he was seeing? Was significant and world-changing. He cannot be forced to forget. And he was secretly glad the brat was refusing it too, since he valued his memory and didn’t want it wiped completely by inexperienced students. 

He must not forget this.

"Sorry, professor. You were at the wrong place, the wrong time. It wouldn't do well for you to learn about my… post-curriculum activities, after all. Or my current company. You might let it slip to the wrong people."

"My Lord, I would never betray your confidences," Theodeus muttered, more than slightly affronted. He’s always been loyal. He never wavered in his faith.

"Hm… you wouldn't, would you?" Tom asked softly, admiring the loyalty his Knight- a Death Eater- still held for him after all these years, and yet, it still didn't change his mind. "It's nothing personal, Theodeus."

“I understand, my Lord.”

" I will lend you more of my magic. I'm seriously not obliviating Snape; he'd kill me if he found out."

Tom turned to Harry, not noticing the even more panicked expression Snape bore.

"I'll protect you, dear, don't you trust me?"

"Shut up and obliviate them."

"Yes, my Lord," Tom teased playfully and turned his predatory gaze to his followers.

The next moment, Tom felt magic flooding him. Harry stepped behind him and pressed a wand into his hand.

Trusting him.

He couldn't believe what a rush it was for someone to trust him in the way Harry trusted him.

With his wand.

His life.

Trusted him enough to take care of the threat and not take advantage of him.

He's never letting this go .

Tom trained Harry's wand - that felt so much like his own - on his future Death Eaters. 

"Don't try to fight this or it’ll hurt," he warned, even if he didn't care if they did. He’d still do the job he was entrusted with. “ Obliviate ."

Before his Lord obliviated him, Theodeus Nott felt giddy and had an intrigued and slightly wondrous look on his face as he observed his young Lord and Harry Potter hissing in parseltongue between themselves.

Arguing. Plotting. Grinning at each other and changing secret conspiratorial looks.

As if they stood on equal ground, for Theodeus had never seen his Lord act this way towards someone else.

Trusting , seeing as the Potter boy simply handed his Lord his own wand. Something any other wizard would curse you for even asking.

It was fascinating and terrifying at the same time, and yet, Theodeus felt excited for the future and for his Lord.

Because one thing was absolutely, terrifyingly clear to him:

It seems like finally, after years of waiting, Tom Riddle met his match.

"That was…" Harry was still speechless, even after Tom had pulled him back into the secret passage and cast Notice-Me-Not spell on it, just in case. After confounding Snape and Nott.

"We must be more careful,” Tom intoned quietly.

Harry’s eyes instantly snapped to him. “ We ? Who chased me here?” 

Tom was about to retort, when a sudden mischievous glint in Harry’s eyes and that goddamned smirk made him pause and step back wearily.

“You did, kitten ,” Harry said, pointing an accusatory finger into Tom’s chest. “You chased me like a ca- muffg!”

“Harry…” Tom whispered sweetly as he slapped his hand over Harry’s mouth. “Shut up.”

Harry looked shocked, then disbelieving, and then Tom could feel him smile. There wasn’t even any time for weariness to creep in, when the very next moment, that blasted boy licked him.

“What the fuck, Potter?!?” Tom screeched and jumped back, wiping his hand on his trousers. What was up with this boy? “You may have a sudden onset fascination- no, obsession - with cats, but it’s not an invitation to start acting like one!”

Harry bit his lip, doing his hardest to hold in his snickers, but the scowl Tom was wearing only deepened, causing Harry to lose it.

Tom wanted to be angry. He really really did, but the only feeling he could conjure was fond exasperation, most likely a cause of Harry’s laughter.

Tom shook his head, having no idea how he ended up in this situation.

Merlin, a kitten .

If his followers heard this… his Dark Lord days would be over before they even started.

And yet, as he looked at this emerald-eyed boy, he couldn’t muster even the slightest thread of regret. He wanted more of this, whatever this was.

He’s never felt more alive.

Especially when Harry smiled brightly at him, making his heart flutter.

“Come on, Tom, we should go. Merlin knows, if Snape finds us again, we might not be so lucky.”

Tom hummed absentmindedly, and allowed himself to be pulled through the narrow passageway.

“Do you think the obliviate will hold?” Harry asked, a slight hesitation in his voice, and Tom could tell he was worried, even if he hid it well. “I mean, Snape is… well, Snape . Sneaky bastard and I’m pretty sure his occlumency skills aren’t subpar.”

“Hm… I’m uncertain. While I don’t doubt my own abilities, I’m unsure of his. It could go either way. Don’t worry-” Tom found himself reassuring Harry as he panicked. “Snape is… well, he bears my Mark. He’s been trying to help you this year, no matter how annoying you find it, he has. If there’s one thing I can say with confidence, is that he will be on your side regardless, even if he somehow breaks through the obliviate.”

“Unless he decides that dissecting me is a better option,” Harry muttered darkly. It was an entirely possible option.

Tom snorted.

“What? He might! I kind of attacked him.”

“I’m sure you being found together with the Dark Lord will overshadow that fact a little.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“He won’t dare harm his own Lord,” Tom said with conviction.

“Are you, really? His Lord? I mean, you’ve been stuck in that diary-”

“It’s a journal.”

“-for decades. You didn’t mark them.”

“But my counterpart did. We are the same soul, Harry.” Tom turned to look him in the eye, just so Harry could see he wasn’t kidding. “He might be older, insane and more experienced, but we still share a soul. His followers are my followers. I’m still Voldemort. ”

Harry stared at Tom in contemplative silence, his eyes calculating.

For a brief moment, Tom was struck by fear of Harry leaving him.

But he wouldn’t… would he? Not after all this time.

Not after he came back.

Not after giving him his wand and trusting him to take care of it.

Not after-

No, Harry wouldn’t leave him.

“I know you’re Voldemort, kind of,” Harry started slowly. “But you are also different. You’re also Tom Riddle and still possess your humanity and your brilliant mind. You’re not insane.” Harry cocked his head to the side, smiling slightly. “We might even say, you’re a better version of the current Dark Lord. Oh, stop preening.” The boy swatted Tom’s arm. “I’m not complimenting you, I’m stating facts.”

“Do I look better too?”

“Yes.” Harry’s cheeks reddened. “Shut up!”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Harry glared, but that didn’t diminish Tom’s smirk in the slightest. In fact, it got wider.

“Who was that man behind Snape?” Harry suddenly asked, feeling quite stupid he forgot to ask later. “He recognized you.”

“Theodeus Nott,” Tom answered easily. “He was my classmate and one of my Knights. One of the very firsts, actually.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” Harry paused, looking Tom up and down. “You look great for such an old man, Tom.”

Tom, who was still in possession of Harry’s wand, shot a stinging hex at the boy.

“Ouch! It’s true- ouch ! TOM!” Harry screeched after Tom unrepentantly shot another hex straight to his buttocks.

“You, Harry James Potter, are a danger to society as a whole,” Tom muttered darkly. “And you deserved those hexes. And besides, age means nothing to me, seeing as I’ve conquered death, dear.”

“Whatever,” Harry muttered darkly, still rubbing the offended places. “I’m surprised you didn’t ask for his help or something. I mean… I’m sure he could lend a hand with some things. He’s older and has more experience than me. And isn’t under Dumbledore’s constant eye.” Like me.

“Perhaps, but it’s too dangerous at the moment. You said it yourself - Death Eaters are rearing their heads again, if the shitshow at the Quidditch Cup is any indication. We don’t know who was involved and initiated it - it could be my Inner Circle, it could be just lower ranks getting too excited. For all we know, Theodeus was one of them.”

“Sure, but you were there too. I doubt he would’ve done anything.”

“Better safe than sorry, Harry. There’s just so much I can do in this form,” Tom motioned over his still corporeal body. “I’m not sure I could’ve held off two competent, adult wizards, who are my own Inner Circle members. And I don’t allow idiots in, just so you know.”

Harry rolled his eyes, already intimately familiar with ‘only the best for Tom Riddle’ spiel.

“For all we know, Theodeus could’ve told my main part about us or even handed you off to him. It was too risky at the moment.”

“Alright,” Harry agreed easily. After all, Tom knew his followers best, even if it’s been a while. And he really didn’t want to be handed off to that insane lunatic any time soon. Not until he has a plan to make him sane-r.

“You should also stop pouring so much of your magic into me, Harry, unless you wish to pass out from exhaustion.”

Harry stopped briefly, blinking in shock.

He completely forgot he was doing that. It was sort of instinctual at this point.

“Oh,” Harry muttered and stopped his magic from flowing so heavily into the boy.

Their connection was one of a kind - completely unique. Harry knew, because he searched the library high and low, read every book about magical connections he could get his hands on, and still, nothing even resembled the bond he and Tom shared.

It was weird, yet fascinating at the same time.

Soul or magical connection, Harry wasn’t sure. Parasitic from Tom’s end - not that he’d ever say that out loud - but it was true. He was the one keeping Tom corporeal and made it possible for him to interact with the outside world.

It was much more draining at first, when he was much younger, but back then, Tom was content to answer back from the diary, which didn’t require much energy  at all. And he kept enough of the lifeforce from Ginny as well, in order to prevent Harry from being harmed.

Only later did Tom start appearing to him in the real world. 

The very first time must’ve been when the Dursleys decided to lock him up for five days without food.

Harry offhandedly mentioned it to Tom and the next moment, a very pissed-off, ghostly apparition of Tom Riddle was standing in front of him, demanding him to curse those filthy muggles, and if Harry couldn’t do it himself, Tom would gladly do it for him.

It was a shock, one could say.

And perhaps not as much of a coincidence or accident, as some would believe, that the day he was let out, he cursed Marge.

Harry still wished he had stayed long enough to see their horrified faces.

“Harry?” Tom’s concerned tone reached Harry, making him snap out of his memories.

“Yeah? Sorry, I zoned out.”

“You- you should probably lie down.”

Harry frowned, wondering what the fuck Tom was on about this time, when a wave of dizziness hit him and he finally felt just how exhausted he was.

Oh no.

Harry barely had time to extend his hand and lean against the wall, breathing heavily.

“That was unexpected,” Harry muttered, when the feeling passed and he felt more steady on his feet. The previous adrenaline rush must’ve zapped whatever energy he had left.

Tom pursed his lips unhappily. “Oh was it? I told you to eat-”

“Need I remind you you were the one that tackled me-”

“You deserved it.” Tom was firm on that one, but his eyes softened when Harry muttered a tired ‘maybe’ . “Come on. Let’s get you back to bed.” Tom gently took a hold of Harry’s elbow and snook a hand around his waist, for the second time that night. And he did not preen when he felt Harry lean into him. “Come on, dear. Room of Requirement is the closest, at this point.”

Harry didn’t protest, feeling sluggish, and allowed Tom to lead him.

He was out before the pillow reached his head.

When Harry woke up, it was to a basket of fruits and sandwiches on the nightstand and a blurry shape of Tom devouring yet another heavy tome of what Harry was sure was some obscure and difficult magic.

“How did you get the food?” he asked, once it finally clicked that this room - while brilliant - doesn’t provide substance.

Tom suddenly gained a peculiar look on his face and slowly put the book down.

“I- I had the most bizarre encounter earlier,” Tom stammered, looking quite put out. “I met your friend.”

~

Harry’s been snoring slightly for what Tom esteemed to be hours now.

He doesn’t fancy going back into his journal when he doesn't need to; it’s not like anyone can just waltz into the Room of Requirement and he has some time before Harry wakes up, so Tom decides to indulge himself into one of the many books the Room so generously provides for him.

After all, he has nothing but time. Why not make the most of it?

He is halfway through when a sound startles him.

Knocking .

On the door.

“It shouldn’t be possible,” Tom mutters to no one but himself, but alas, he’s standing up, Harry’s wand in hand, and slowly approaches the door.

If Dumbledore somehow found out… Tom looks back at the boy sleeping on the bed. Then this is the end.

But Tom isn’t one to go down without a fight.

He’ll kill if he has to, too.

Knock knock knock

There it is again.

Tom inhales deeply, praying to every god he knows that opening the door isn’t a mistake - and peeks out.

There's a petite blonde girl standing on the other side, holding a basket-

“Here,” The next moment, its being shoved into Tom’s arms. “Harry’ll be hungry when he wakes up. It’s better than walking all the way to the kitchens and back here, isn’t it?”

Tom may be shocked, but it doesn’t stop him from pointing the wand at the girl's throat.

“Who are you and how do you know we’re here?” he demands, ignoring the fear creeping in. If she knows, who else has she informed?

The girl giggles.

“Relax, Tom. You and Harry are completely safe in there. And I would never dare betray either of you. Lady Magic would strike me down immediately, I think.”

Against his rational mind, Tom relaxes. Somehow, he believes her.

“You haven’t answered my questions,” he says instead through clenched teeth.

“Ah, my mistake. I’m Luna Lovegood.” Tom recognizes the name instantly. ”Nargles told me where to find you. They say a lot of things, actually.”

The- what?

Nargles?

“Nargles?” he repeats, flabbergasted.

She nods, and only now does Tom notice the faraway look in her eyes.

Harry did say the girl knows things she shouldn’t… obviously.

So he does the next best thing; tries to read her mind.

And fails .

There is nothing but white impenetrable mist surrounding the girl's mind. It’s not occlumency, but something else shielding her from the world.

Something other . Something unseen.

Oh.

“You’re a seer,” he blurs out, without really meaning to, blush rushing to his cheeks.

Luna smiles.

“And you are blessed by Magic. You and Harry, both.” At once, her expression clears. Sharpens . It sends chills down Tom’s spine. “But only if you stay together. You’ll either rise together, or everything will fall apart.”

Tom believes her.

He’s still cautious, but something in him is entirely trustful of this girl in front of him. Of her words. 

Predictions?

“So you agree? With our goals?”

“I agree to the path that allows magic to thrive.”

Tom frowns. “Those are my goals.”

“Perhaps. Once upon a time.” She cocks her head to the side. Her eyes unseeing. “There are many paths, Tom Riddle. Many outcomes. It all relies on the choices we make.”

“Am I making the right choices then?”

“ You are now. With Harry by your side.” She’s smiling at him again, a knowing glint in her eyes. “If only he was born in your time, right?”

Wishful thinking. Tom has pondered many times over the last few years, how if Harry was born  decades earlier and attended Hogwarts at the same time as he… they could’ve taken the Magical World by storm.

That perhaps, he wouldn’t have gone insane.

Wouldn’t have caused such destruction to the place he tried to fix.

But it was nothing more than a wishful dream.

They were here, now.

Doing the same, even if more difficult, thing.

But Tom believed that they will succeed this time. That he and Harry will fix this world.

“Good luck, Tom Riddle. Just remember; you have more allies in the castle than you think.”

~

Harry was just as flabbergasted as Tom was.

“Luna?” he looked at the basket, noting that his favourite foods were stored in there, amongst them: “Treacle tart! How did she know?”

“She’s a seer.”

Harry choked on his food, sending Tom a withering glare. The slytherin clearly waited until he took a bite to tell him that. It was obvious enough from that infuriating smirk on Tom’s dumb face.

“What?!” he choked out, mind whirling back to their previous encounters with Luna. “But… well, that makes a weird sort of sense, really.”

“Oh, does it, now?”

“Shut up. Luna is… different. She’s always talking in riddles and looks like she’s in another world most of the time… I should’ve seen this coming.”

“Obviously.” Tom smirked. “But how could you have? You are many things, darling, but seer isn’t one of them.”

Harry wisely ignored the other boy. “Still can’t believe she just… what? Told you?”

Tom rolled his eyes. “She didn’t. I guessed. Not that hard to decipher when she knows who I am without meeting me, her mind is clouded and she speaks in riddles, as you say. Kind of. Besides, she’s not the first person I’ve met with seer abilities.”

Harry groaned. “If you say Trelawney, I’ll dump you in Moaning Myrtle's toilet.”

“Merlin, no.” Tom looks disgusted. “However… during my time there was a second year Hufflepuff girl who was told to give accurate readings.”

“Of course, she was beneath you to approach,” Harry quipped, a knowing look on his face.

“Of course. She was way too young and, well… I don’t know what happened after. Who knows? Maybe she read my tea leaves and predicted my Dark Lord days.”

Harry snorted. “Of course. Tea leaves. Merlin, the first time I had to read my tea leaves, that bint announced there was a grim and I’ll die. Not to mention I thought I saw a bloody grim weeks before and after that.”

Tom smiled fondly. “I remember. You threatened to set her on fire for two weeks straight after that. Said nobody would question why her classroom exploded, considering how much smoke and sherry bottles there were in the vicinity.”

“I still might,” Harry muttered darkly. “I’m telling you, she was paid by Dumbledore to get me used to death threats. Even though that grim must’ve been Padfoot and not an actual death sign.”

“Speaking of…?” Tom raised his brows in question. “Have you sent him a letter yet?”

“...no?” Harry took up eating again, so he wouldn’t have to talk.

He had no idea why he was avoiding Sirius.

Or perhaps he did.

That man was clearly someone who would listen to Dumbledore, blindly. Which was suspicious as fuck, considering that Dumbledore could’ve gotten him out of Azkaban, whenever. 

“He’s the adult. He should be reaching out to me,” he said eventually, and it was true. Why was it Harry's job to reach out to everyone? Fix everything?

“From what we heard, your godfather is a childish gryffindor, sitting in Dumbledore’s pockets,” Tom clearly wasn’t impressed with the current Blacks. “But he is your godfather, someone who broke out of Azkaban in fear Pettigrew would get to you. I’m sure you’ll be able to change his mind about the old coot.” Eventually. And if not, he’ll take Harry’s mind off things after killing the Black himself.

“Whatever.” Harry’s too busy with things anyway. Maybe after Yule. “I need a bloody muscle relaxant. I don’t think I can walk.” Harry promptly fell back into pillows, groaning. “I’m never ever dancing again. Or walking, for that matter.”

“Don’t be dramatic, dear,” Tom said, even though he could admit Luna’s words about going for food held some merit right now. She must’ve known this would be the case. “You’ll be just fine. And I’m certain you have some pain relief potions leftover.”

“They’re in my trunk,” Harry draped a hand over his eyes. “I hate my life.”

“No, you don’t. You got to… well, not exactly attack, but you did get one over Snape, didn’t you?”

Harry groaned loudly . “Oh, Merlin, don’t remind me. If he sees some discrepancies in his memory, he’ll kill me. Stop looking so bloody amused! You know I’m right! And if I end up poisoned, the blame will be entirely yours!”

“Of course, dear,” Tom said placatingly, finding Harry’s worry unfounded. In turn, Harry put a pillow over his head and screamed.

The Potion’s professor seemed to be becoming an ally, and Tom was going to take advantage anywhere he could. His Harry may see it as a hindrance, but it’ll help in the long run. “Come on. I’ll draw you a bath. It’ll help you loads with those sore muscles, and after that, we’ll look for some more obscure curses you can use on your yearmates.”

Harry smiled behind the pillow.

Tom may be an utter asshole, but he could also be incredibly sweet and considerate. He knew just what to say to make him feel better.

The water was already running when a ridiculous thought crossed Harry’s mind; if he allowed Voldemort access to his mind and he saw Tom with him, drawing him a bloody bath? Would that insane lunatic spontaneously combust? 

Harry started laughing from the sheer incredulousness of it, when Tom shouted:

“Hurry up!”

Perhaps that idea has merit.

Voldemort might just be shocked back into sanity.

Severus was contemplating if calling Narcissa Malfoy as a healer for Harry was a good idea or would the boy simply run off at the sight of her, when there was a knock at his door.

He genuinely hoped it wasn’t Igor, who’s been trying to get him alone to talk for quite some time now, getting increasingly more and more paranoid.

Severus understood where that fear was coming from - their Marks were darkening, the Dark Lord was getting stronger by the day and Karkaroff was a traitor . It was a death sentence to the man.

“Come in,” he said, relieved to see it was his godson along with Nott and Zabini. “What do you need, Draco?”

“Would you mind if we borrowed your pensive for a bit?” Draco couldn’t even hide his excitement from the dower man. “Just one memory, and we’ll be gone.”

Snape’s eyes narrowed. What had his slytherins so excited?

“Only if you tell me what sort of memory it is, Draco. And who’s it from?” Merlin, don’t let it be something inappropriate. 

“Harry’s,” Nott answered easily, with the same sort of enthusiasm.

Of course.

What was Severus even expecting?

It was always Potter .

“We missed the fiasco with Weasley earlier, and Harry was gracious enough to provide the memory for us.”

Snape snorted.

Gracious? Severus could bet his entire potion cabinet that Potter traded it for something. But he could also understand his slytherins’ intrigue and even disappointment at having missed the so-called show.

Even the staff was still talking about it, or more precisely - how Potter got points awarded to Ravenclaw instead of his own house.

Minerva was still salty about that one.

“Go ahead,” he motioned to the cabinet where his currently empty pensive lay. 

“Thank you, Sev!” Draco exclaimed, and the other two inclined their heads in gratitude as well.

Not a moment later, all three were absorbed in the memory.

In the mean time, Snape weighed his options.

He always called Narcissa for abuse cases. She was an extremely talented healer, a mother herself and had a unique approach to each student. He couldn’t remember the time someone was uncomfortable in her presence or refused the treatment; she never left anyone unhealed.

However… Potter was a different case. Explosive and unpredictable case.

He had no idea how it would go if the boy saw Narcissa Malfoy. He could refuse. He could run away. He could agree.

It was hard enough to even pin down the blasted boy, let alone extract answers from him, or, Merlin forbid, admit the abuse he suffered for he was still in denial, but Severus couldn’t predict how he’d react to seeing his classmate’s - and now friend’s - mother, as a healer.

Severus had other contacts, of course, but he didn’t trust anyone as much as he trusted Cissy. Especially with someone as famous as the Boy Who Lived.

It was decided, then.

As if on cue, explosive laughter erupted as the boys emerged from the pensive. All of them teary eyed from laughter.

“Good memory?” he drawled, knowing damn well that it was. Even if he was furious at the time at the sheer audacity of the gryffindors.

“Merlin, Sev. He- he got points appointed to another house?”

“And Weasley’s face! What was he thinking, asking Delacour out?” Zabini was just as shocked as the rest of them. “Is he completely brain-dead?”

Nott, however, looked serious. “This may push them to attack Harry.” Everyone looked at him, startled at the serious tone. “We all know he’s been completely unreasonable ever since Harry… well, snapped. Stalking, attacking, and now only he, but his demented sister and Granger too.”

Draco immediately sobered up. “Sev, what if they try to potion him? Especially Weaslette?”

Severus already wondered about this himself. “I’m confident Mr Potter is not one to fall prey to such things. However, I’m sure you’re aware he checks his food, and as long as he’s sitting at the Slytherin table…”

“Nobody would dare,” Theo finished, wide-eyed. “And we’d notice if he was acting differently.”

“Precisely.”

His slytherins seemed to relax.

It was a wonder how they came to care for a boy they antagonised for the better part of four years. But Harry grew on all of them.

Most likely like fungus.

“Now, if you’re finished with the memory, kindly get out.”

The boys dipped their heads and scurried out of his office, leaving Severus alone again.

He didn’t waste any time. 

“Malfoy Manor!” the wizard shouted as he threw a pinch of floo powder into the fire.

“Severus?”

“It’s me. Is Narcissa home?”

“Yes. Come through.”

Severus stepped into a very familiar study of one Lucius Malfoy, who looked slightly dishevelled. He looked to be writing Merlin’s knows which draft of a letter, if the discarded and crumbled papers were any indication.

“Writing a book, Lucius?” Snape drawled, both curious and amused at his friend’s clearly panicked state.

“Very funny, Severus. No, just a very important and delicate letter.” He put the quill down, sighing deeply, and leaned back into his chair. “I believe I made a grave mistake a few years ago and I can’t seem to find a way to remedy it.”

“Oh?”

“I’m sorry, Severus, I cannot disclose it, even to you. But there is another way you could help me.” The wizard looked intently at the Potion’s Master, as if to scrutinise his reaction. “What can you tell me about Harry Potter?”

Severus was stunned at the question. Why would Lucius care about Potter, out of all people? Why now?

“What exactly do you wish to know, Lucius? I’m sure whatever it is, your son would be a more viable source, seeing as Draco and Harry get along quite well these days.”

“So I’ve heard. Trust me, it’s a great relief from Draco's usual complaints about Potter. However, it’s most shocking how the young Potter heir suddenly just… changed completely, isn’t it? Do you think someone is… influencing him?”

Lucius knew something he didn’t, of that Severus was certain.

“As far as I’m aware, the boy has been playing Dumbledore all these years. He duped everyone, even us, but something this year made him snap. Perhaps it was his name coming out of the Goblet, forcing him to compete. Perhaps he was done with pretending. Who knows? But one thing I’m completely certain of, is that the Harry Potter we knew before was a farce. The boy is dark, Lucius. I’ll swear on it.”

The blond exhaled shakily, and closed his eyes.

“Did something happen, Lucius?” Severus inquired. He’s never seen Malfoy Lord act like this. He was always poised and collected. Now he looked defeated.

“Yes. I’m unable to tell you what, Severus, and it’s not because I do not trust you,” he added, clearly sensing Snape’s annoyance. “I met Potter in Hogsmeade.” That was a surprise to the professor. “He made claims… statements really. I was unwise, I’ll admit, and I goaded the boy.” Snape closed his eyes in exasperation. He knew where this was going. “He made my Mark burn , Severus. His wandless magic? The control he has… What if the Dark Lord is possessing the boy?”

That Severus did not expect. As well as visible fear and desperation in the other wizard’s eyes.

“I assure you, Lucius, that Potter is terrifying on his own, and our Lord has no influence over it.”

“But the Mark-”

“I believe it’s closely related to parseltongue. And Potter is a parselmouth; of course he’ll exploit this loophole. Just look at what he did during the first task.”

“Yes… it was a splendid display, I’ll admit that.” He smirked. “And the old coot was furious afterwards.”

Severus snorted. “Splendid display? Do you mean the part where Potter skipped away with the egg, happy as you please, with not a scratch on him or when he stood there smirking while the dragon almost broke the protective enchantments of the judges’ box? Hell, the boy even pointed to the dragon! Be glad we weren’t there.”

Lucius chuckled. He wouldn’t have minded if the judges were burned. Most were fools anyway.

“So the boy is showing his true colours then? It’s not a farce?”

“I wish it was, then I wouldn’t have to deal with all the additional drama this causes. Potter may’ve suddenly become a brilliant student, but Merlin, getting anything out of him is impossible. I have no idea what he wants from all of this.”

“Is my son safe?” Lucius asked quietly, but his eyes were trained intently on Severus. “I know they became acquaintances, friends even, but is my son safe from him , Severus? And don’t you dare sugar coat it.”

The wizard pondered for a moment. “From what I observed so far, Draco is in no danger from Potter, Lucius. If anything, when the time comes, I’m certain Harry will protect those who are close to him, including your son.”

Malfoy sighed deeply. “Why do I get a feeling Potter is gathering his own inner circle?”

Severus snorted. Those were the exact words Theodeus Nott said to him last night.

“Perhaps you’re onto something here, Lucius.”

“Onto what?” a voice asked from the doorway, and both wizards turned to see Narcissa. “I apologise for taking this long to come up, Severus. Would you like some tea?”

Ever the gracious host, Severus thought.

“No, thank you, Cissy. I’m afraid I have to go back to Hogwarts as soon as possible. Merlin knows what those dunderheads would do in my absence.”

The witch chuckled. “Of course. Come. Let’s talk. I’m sure Lucius needs to finish his letter.”

Severus shared a look with the man and said his goodbyes, following Narcissa out of the study.

“Now, Severus, what did you need me for?”

“I have a student at Hogwarts who is in need of your expertise.”

The pleasant expression on the woman’s face dowered immediately.

“Another case?” she whispered sadly. It hurt her greatly to hear about any child being hurt in their own homes, where they should be cherished beyond belief. “Who is it?”

Severus shook his head. “I’m afraid I cannot say. In fact, they demanded a secrecy contract. Wouldn’t agree to a healer any other way.”

Narcissa’s concern grew.

“That’s a bit unusual for a Hogwarts student, but I understand. You wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t serious.”

“So, you’ll agree to help?”

“Of course. When do you need me there?”

“Sometime during the holidays would be wonderful. Whenever you have free time.”

“Perhaps after Yule then. It is an incredibly busy time. I’ll send you a letter.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Cissy.”

The witch chuckled. “Oh, stop it, you. You know it’s my job.”

Severus did. And he wished there was someone taking children's health as seriously as Narcissa did back in his time.

Perhaps his life would have turned out differently. But it was nothing more than a wishful dream.

There was no point dwelling on it now.

He can only strive to do better.

“Has anyone seen Harry?” Cassius Warrington asked as he entered the Common Room.

“Not since yesterday,” Nott replied, eyes narrowed. “Why?”

Cassius opened his robe and showed a snake coiled tightly around his neck. “This. The little buddy just came up to me and slithered up there. No idea why or what I should do now.”

“Where were you when this happened?” Draco asked, suspicious. It wasn’t like Harry’s snake to just slither up to anyone out of the blue. There must’ve been a reason.

“Uh… just walking out of detention with Moody,” Cassius answered sheepishly. “Snake was right at his door, actually.”

Draco and Theodore shared a look.

This was weird.

Perhaps Harry sent his snake to spy on the ex-Auror? Who knows?

“So… what should I do?” Cassius asked, pointing at the snake.

Draco smirked. “Keep it.” He shrugged, feigning disinterest. “You two look comfy.”

Cassius visibly gulped, not expecting such an answer. Clearly, he wanted that snake far away from him. “But- can’t you get Harry?”

“No idea where he is, he wasn’t at breakfast or at lunch,” Draco shrugged again. “We don’t exactly keep tabs on him, you know.”

“I doubt he’d be happy if we tried to stalk him,” nodded Theo. “And besides, he has a tendency to disappear when he doesn’t want to be found. Just keep the snake, Cassius. It’ll do whatever it wants to.”

The boy nodded, looking defeated, then slumped onto one of the sofas.

As if on cue, Loki uncoiled himself and slithered up to Draco, pushing its head under the boy’s hand, until Draco started scratching it.

“See?” Draco smirked. “Wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Theo rolled his eyes. “No need to be so smug, Dray. We get it. The snake likes you.”

“Of course it does.”

“You probably smell like food to him, that’s why.”

Draco spluttered, glaring daggers at Theo, who was nonchalantly checking out his nails. “I do not!”

“How would you know? It’s entirely possible.”

“I’ll ask Harry. He’ll tell you you’re full of shit, Theo.”

The boy smirked smugly, as if he knew something Draco didn’t.

“Any of you going home after the Yule Ball?” Cassius asked, feeling much more relaxed that the serpent wasn’t around his neck. Merlin .

“Nope,” Theo quipped. “I’m good here.”

“I’ll be going home for the Yule Ball mother is preparing. She’d kill me if I missed it.” Draco turned to glare at Theo. “Aren’t you attending?”

“You won’t bully me to go this year, Draco. This year, we have a valid excuse to miss it. Why not use it?”

“That’s a valid point,” Cassius grinned. “All the fun will be at Hogwarts this year. I heard that most Heads of the Ministry departments will be attending as well. Perfect for networking.”

Draco’s face soured. “Don’t tell me I’ll be the only student attending our Ball.”

“Oh, I’m sure there will be kids there for you to talk with, Draco dear,” Blaise came up to the group, grinning like a loon. “All of those who were too young to attend Hogwarts Ball and went home… younger children. You know. Perfect for your entertainment.”

Draco snarled. “Shut up, Blaise.”

“Why? I’m stating the facts, Draco. Almost everyone is staying at Hogwarts this year. Missing one year won’t change anything in the grand scheme of things.”

“If you want some company, invite Harry,” Theo’s grin turned feral for a second. “I’m sure your parents wouldn’t mind meeting him again.”

Draco paled slightly as he recalled the last time his parents and Harry came face to face.

It was a disaster.

His father still warned him not to anger Harry needlessly.

“... I’m missing something, aren’t I,” Cassius muttered, confused at the younger boy's reactions. “Typical.”

Blaise grinned. “Nothing personal, Cassius. Just Harry being Harry.”

“That doesn’t clarify anything, you know. I’m certain you’d say that even if he killed someone.”

Blaise offered a smile and nothing else.

After all, all of them knew that Harry Potter was more than he appeared.

More intelligent. More secretive. More cruel.

All the hidden depths of the boy, the secrets he kept close to his heart. The knowing smiles and non-answers.

Potter was a walking contradiction full of mysteries and they couldn’t help but seek answers they weren’t going to get.

Not unless the boy offers those himself, freely.

“Well then,” Cassius stood up, feeling like he was intruding on a conversation that didn’t involve him. “I’ll leave you to it then. I suggest you get to bed early, unless you wish to look like shit tomorrow.”

“Malfoys never look like shit.” Draco huffed. “Ridiculous.”

“Are you ready for the Ball tomorrow?”

Harry groaned, wishing for the thing to be cancelled altogether.

“Oh, yes. People ogling me and just waiting for me to trip over my own feet. There’s nothing better than that.”

“Oh, don’t be melodramatic, dear, you’ll do just fine.”

Harry grabbed a pillow and pushed it over his face, muffling his groans of misery.

“You’ve been doing this a lot lately,” Tom pointed out. “Hope this isn’t a sign you want to be suffocated. Or have you found your preferred dying method? A kink perhaps? Who kno-”

“Tom, shut up!” Harry threw the pillow at Tom, cheeks flaming red. Why did he have to be such a prick?!? “Can’t you be normal for once and allow me to wallow in my own misery? Feel sorry for me or something.”

“Oh?” Tom raised an inquiring eyebrow. “Yes, such horrors you face. Socialising! The epitome of torture and gateway to madness. But wait, that’s not all! Dancing! Oh, you poor dea- what the fuck, Harry?!? ” Tom shrieked when Harry managed to transfigure his cup into a fish and threw it directly into Tom’s face. “Are you completely out of your mind?!?”

“Yes,” Harry pouted, feeling completely justified in what he just did. “You deserved it. I hope it stinks.”

Tom gaped.

There was nothing else to do but gape, because this boy was completely ridiculous and unpredictable.

Nobody has ever done something like this before. If they had, he would’ve crucioed them for sheer audacity, and then left them twitching on the floor, begging for the mercy of death.

However, after years being with the boy, he understood one thing; Harry lashes out when stressed.

And he looked stressed.

On edge.

Annoying him now probably wasn’t the best thing, but Tom just wanted to alleviate the pressure.

“You know I didn’t mean it, Harry,” Tom walked closer to the bed and tentatively sat down. “You have this whole day to yourself, we can do whatever you want. We can even- “ Merlin, help him, “ -play Exploding Snap or learn some new obscure curses? I’ve had time to read about quite a few interesting ones last night, I’m sure you’d be interested.”

Tom could see a reluctant smile forming on Harry’s lips and he knew he was winning. “Come on, dear. You can’t stay all day in bed, moping.”

“I can, too.”

“Sure, but why waste your time doing that when we can use it to blow something up?”

Harry was sold.

His eyes glinted with something fierce when he looked back at Tom, an excited grin on his face that did something weird to Tom’s insides.

“Well, we can’t miss such an opportunity now, can we?” Harry jumped up from the bed with renewed energy. He always found blowing things up extremely satisfying and Tom knew it.

That bastard.

Probably used this to get him out of the bed too, but Harry couldn’t hold it against him. He just knew he will soon be learning something illegal but immensely gratifying.

Tom was special like that.

At that moment, half a dozen duelling practice dummies appeared on the other side of the room and Tom picked up the book he left open previously, skimming through previous bookmarks, and walked up to Harry.

“Let’s get started, shall we?”

After the first spell left the dummy in lightly smoking tatters and Harry looked at him with a brilliant, but not entirely sane smile on his face, Tom knew with absolute certainty that Harry was a gift for him from the Gods themselves.

That with Harry by his side, he could take over the world.

There would be no one else. There couldn’t be. This world simply couldn’t handle another Harry Potter in it.

However, Tom heeded the seer’s warning. It was clear to him that the Fates were speaking through Luna and he wasn’t arrogant enough to dismiss them like most would.

He didn’t tell Harry how the seer’s eyes went completely white and she spoke in a grovelling voice that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and froze him in place, when his instincts told him it was something other speaking through the girl.

Something bigger and greater than all of them.

One sentence that still lingered in his mind and inflicted terror of what was at stake. Of what was implied. 

If the pieces aren’t reunited bar the carrier of the soul, if he falls into the hands of the tainted light, everything will be lost and magical world will face the threat of extinction and eternal darkness