Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
•○•
The morning after the New Year was somber and quiet.
Most students were hung over or too tired after the last night's festivities to muster up any energy and be loud so early on, leading to a peaceful start of the day. Although waking up in Tom’s arms was all the peace Harry needed these days: he’d gladly admit he won the best morning lottery already.
By the amused quirk on Snape's face, though, Harry deduced that the man was intimately aware of the reason for his students' moods today, and was pleased by it. Why wouldn't he, when he didn't have to reign loud students in?
Although he was pretty sure it was because he was enjoying their misery and their inability to ask for hangover draughts without implicating themselves, that sadistic bastard.
Good thing Harry didn't need one.
"Potter, you look way too chirpy this morning," Draco groaned from the other side of the table, looking worse to wear despite trying - and failing - to look fine.
"Jealous?"
"Get that smug mug away from this table," the blond snipped. "It has no place near us, proper slytherins."
"Piss off, Draco." Blaise slid into the seat next to Harry. "Harry’s more slytherin than you." The boy gasped. "Maybe you should go and join the hufflepuffs."
"I'm sure the gryffindors would be happy to accommodate us." Harry grinned and made a motion to stand up. "Shall we go, Draco? You'll fit right in: they look just as miserable as you do." With a flick of his wrist, Draco's sweater turned red. "Now you fit in, too."
"POTTER!" an ungodly screech silenced the Great Hall and everyone turned to look at the unfolding scene with great interest. "YOU TAKE THIS BACK RIGHT NOW!"
Harry grinned unapologetically. "Red suits you, Draco. Should I finish the look with a red bow? Or perhaps… red hair?"
Students started snickering and Draco's face was gradually becoming darker with anger and embarrassment.
"Didn't you say you could pull off any look the other day, Draco?" Pansy crooned. "This is your chance to shine, Mr Everything-Looks-Great-On-Me Malfoy."
"Are we hearing this right?"
"Are we getting a new brother?"
"Not them," Pucey whispered in horror as two red-headed twins popped up behind Draco, grinning like maniacs.
The blond yelped when two sets of hands landed on his shoulders and they pushed Pansy and an unsuspecting second year girl aside to make room for themselves on Draco’s sides.
“I'm perfectly fine being the only child,” Draco gritted his teeth. “Potter, get your pets under control.”
The twins gasped.
“Are we at the pet names stage already, Draco?”
“Draky?”
“Sugar plum?”
“Pumpkin’?”
“Sweetie pie?”
“Little-”
“POTTER!” Draco screeched, clearly at his wits end. He must be really hungover, Harry thought. It was unusual for Draco to lose his temper so quickly, unless something had happened after he left last night to irritate the blond as such, but it was highly unlikely with how drunk everyone had been. Could this truly be a hangover? “Get rid of them!”
“Do it yourself; it’s you who they are annoying. I’m quite entertained.” Harry shrugged unapologetically, reaching for a chocolate croissant. Merlin, they were delicious.
“Thank you, our darling Har-” Fred stopped mid sentence and turned his wide eyes to his brother. “Are you seeing the same thing I am, brother?”
“Unless my eyes are deceiving me, then you are, dear twin of mine.”
“My my. I wasn’t expecting this so soon, but alas…”
“”Looks like Harrykins got himself a girlfriend!””
“Or a boyfriend, we don’t judge.”
Harry froze mid-bite, turning wide eyes to the manically grinning Weasley twins. “What?” he coughed out, but was distracted by Blaise’s whistle.
“Yeah, Harrykins, who mauled you?” he asked with a smirk on his face as Pansy started giggling, eyes glued on Harry’s neck.
Harry felt his face palling before flushing bright red.
Oh.
Tom spent a good portion of time kissing his neck last night, and Harry didn’t complain, because - well, it felt good.
He quickly grabbed the nearest teapot and groaned at his own distorted reflection - literal bite marks were peeking out from his collar. Bloody hell-
“I’m gonna kill him,” Harry muttered absentmindedly, ignoring the snickers. No wonder that bastard looked so damn smug this morning!
“So it’s a he, eh?” Fred grinned. “Who is that dashing fellow that managed to capture your attention, Harrykins?”
He scowled, glaring at every single person at the table, surprised to see Draco glaring at his neck, too.
“None of your damn business, is it?”
“Our insane sister never stood a chance, did she?” George winked. “She’ll have kittens when she finds out we have more chances than she does. Oy!” the redhead jumped. “Who did that?!”
Harry sent another stinging jinx at both of the twins, simultaneously, just because he could.
“Be glad it’s not something worse,” Blaise muttered, receiving one as well. “Oy, what was that for?! I was defending you!?”
“Leave Harry alone you mongrels,” Pansy said, even though her eyes were glued onto Harry like a predator’s on their prey. She was practically vibrating in her seat with the need to know the new juicy gossip that pertained to Harry bloody Potter. “So, is it someone from Beauxbatons?”
“No,” Harry snapped.
“No? Huh, I saw a certain someone looking for you last night, but you… disappeared.” Pansy was clearly enjoying this a little too much, and- who the hell did she mean? Why would anyone be looking for him?
“You all are just asking to be cursed,” Theo mumbled from his seat, eyes glued on the newest edition of Daily Prophet. He clearly wasn’t interested in the drama, and Harry was glad for it.
Theo preferred facts over gossip. Harry preferred Theo over gossip. A perfect match.
“You're no fun, Nott,” Pansy sniffed.
“Gred. Forge. Aren't you in the same year as Flint?”
“Why, yes we are,” one of the twins smiled, shooting a wink at the suddenly frozen slytherin down the table.
“Go bother him then. Maybe organize a quidditch game?”
The twins jumped at the idea with manic grins spread over their faces, completely ignoring the look of horror Flint shot at Harry when the two Weasleys descended upon him.
“You just murdered, Flint, Potter,” Pucey hissed. “Is this an assassination attempt on our quidditch captain?”
Harry snorted. “Hardly. The twins simply need a… target for their focus, I gave them one. Just look at them - they're basically best friends!”
Flint was sitting there, frozen and glaring murderously at the twins, but shockingly continued listening to whatever the two were sprouting with rapt attention.
…. perhaps he was petrified. Harry couldn't care less.
As long as their attention wasn't on him and trying to discover his secrets, Harry was good.
Suddenly, a proud screech disturbed the Great Hall and Harry turned to watch with fascination how a crow did a circle around the hall, only to land in front of him.
It was as black as night; two beady eyes watching Harry’s every move with disturbing amounts of intelligence.
Hopefully, it wasn't an animagus.
"Got something for me?"
The bird screeched and thrust its’ leg in front of Harry.
What an attitude. Harry could respect that, if the bird wasn't looking at him like he was stupid.
He took the roll of parchment carefully, looking it over with necessary, lifesaving suspicion. It was nondescript, tied with a black bow-
"Ouch! Stupid bird!" Harry shooed the crow away after it nicked him hard enough to bleed. "What was that for?!"
A few slytherins gasped and Harry looked down to see his blood seeping into the parchment which then started glowing.
Merlin’s saggy balls, it better not be some blood activated curse or Harry will break someone's nose.
"You should probably read that." Theo nudged him, looking at the parchment with poorly concealed curiosity.
Yes, but Harry wasn't an idiot and cast every detection charm he knew and was pleased to find that the letter wasn't cursed.
Now… what was inside that required some demon bird and his blood?
Harry unfolded the parchment with bated breath, eyes widening with every word he read.
Potter-
You insolent, insipid, insane child, how dare you mock me so? What is this glittery madness that you’ve sent me? For that alone I will make you suffer tenfold before delivering you into the hands of your mudblood mother.
Such dramatics.
While some of your… gifts were… appreciated, it does not make up for your slights.
Gosh, did it hurt Voldie to say that? Harry hoped it did.
And while I admit, however reluctantly, that Wormtail is a less than deserving servant, he is useful. Do not fool yourself thinking he is my only one, though. And no, you may not have him.
I pray to every god there is that you showing up during Yule was a fluke - just some potion induced fever dream, a nightmare of my own mind's making, and that my younger counterpart was not keeping you as a pet.
Harry bristled at this, already planning to send Voldemort something nasty back. A pet? The audacity-
Count yourself lucky for your escape, Potter - it will not happen again. Return my diary to me at once and your death shall be swift.
Pompous, dramatic arse, that’s what Voldemort was.
Harry winced when the letter started smoking and soon turned to ash in his hands. He ignored his slightly burned fingertips and fumed. How dare that inconsiderate asshole send him something like this?!
Bloody tosser.
Calling him a pet, of all things. He must be under the belief Tom has him completely wrapped around his pretty, long, murderous fingers. Well, that noseless dick is in for a shock.
“Are you alright?” Theo asked quietly. “You look about to murder someone.”
Harry just might.
Harry quickly excused himself and left the hall, stating he needed to send a response, stat.
“I'll come with,” Draco stood up to follow him, ignoring Harry’s glare.
As he left the hall Harry didn't even notice one of his professor's staring at him with barely concealed horror.
They barely managed a few steps before a loud voice interrupted them.
“Oy! Malfoy!”
Cursing, Harry turned to face Ron. He really was not in the mood to deal with him, and neither was Draco, if the sour look on his face was of any indication. Too many gingers in one day for the poor boy to handle.
“What do you want, Weasel?” the blond hissed.
“For you to leave my brothers alone!”
“Done.” Draco turned to leave, but Ron wasn't done yet; he clearly was trying to pick up a fight.
“You've clearly done some dark magic on them! First Harry, now my brothers! What did you do to all of them, Malfoy?!”
Harry was about to snap at the idiot but Draco got there first:
“Something I'll do to you too, you little Weasel, if you don't piss off. One little spell and you'll be completely at my mercy. Who knows; maybe I'll turn you into a rat and keep you as a pet.”
Ron's face paled drastically. Clearly, what happened with Pettigrew was still fresh in his mind and he wasn't sure whether Draco was joking or not, considering his menacing glare.
Which he was. Harry knew for sure since Draco couldn't do human transfiguration. Ron didn't need to know that though.
“I’ll- I’ll tell!”
“Please do,” Harry drawled, groaning when Ron’s eyes landed on him - then his neck - and a look of horror passed the ginger’s face. Oh no. While slytherins might keep it to themselves, this idiot certainly wouldn't. “Until that time, kindly piss off and go bother someone else.”
Ron glared at him. “This isn’t over,” he hissed and, thankfully, ran off soon after.
“You do realize that you've just convinced him that you've done something to me?” Harry hissed, not happy in the slightest with that thought. Ron was brash and unpredictable. He might go to Dumbledore with his ‘fearsthat Harry is under the influence and is being controlled’. And that was something Harry was desperately trying to avoid. The old man will use it as an excuse to call him in for a private chat. “This better not come back to bite me in the ass, Dray.”
“It was funny though,” Pansy chuckled from behind them, having witnessed the little temper tantrum. "Especially the rat threat."
Which… Harry should probably start learning human transfiguration at some point. Maybe ask some pointers from Sirius; they did manage to achieve their animagus forms in their fifth year, which was a feast. Maybe Harry should try as well? Even if the idea of being an animal didn't appeal to him one bit, it was still a useful skill to have. Especially if your name was Harry Potter and sticky situations keep popping up right, left and middle.
Clink, clink, click-
“Wait up, lad!”
Harry stopped and closed his eyes.
Fucking Moody.
He couldn't take one step without someone bothering him today, could he?
“Yes, professor?” he asked through clenched teeth. He was still furious and was itching to send a response as soon as possible; he was in no mood to chat with a paranoid auror.
“I’ve got to tell ya something. Follow me to my office. And you two - scram,” he barked at Draco and Pansy, who had the gall to be insulted and whispered to Harry that they'll see him later. The suspicious glares they threw at the old Auror were amusing, though.
But bloody hell. What now?
With the ever present sneer on his face Harry followed Moody. The door slammed closed behind Harry, making him anxious, but he refused to show it.
"How ya doing, Potter? Still kicking?"
Harry arched his eyebrow. "Did you seriously call me here to ask how I'm doing, professor? I'm doing great. Can I go now?"
Moody barked out a laugh, his weird eye stuck on Harry like glue instead of swirling around, like it usually does.
Harry felt alarm bells go off in his head but didn't show any outward emotion.
There was something wrong with Moody.
"Have you figured out the egg yet?"
Harry blinked. He might've…forgotten about it.
"If I had, I would not tell you. Is that all?"
"Heard you attended the Malfoy Yule Ball, boy," Moody continued. "Are you suicidal? Mixing up with such a dangerous crowd of dark wizards?"
Harry shrugged. "Since when does dark equate evil, professor? Shouldn't you know that since you, well, teach the subject?" He grinned. "Prejudice isn't a good look, really. Makes one seem narrow-minded."
"Who allowed you to go there? Albus certainly didn't give you permission," the wizard barked out, completely ignoring Harry’s answers.
"He does not dictate where I go," Harry hissed. "Neither do you, for that matter."
"What did you do at the Malfoy Manor, Potter? Where did you go after the Ball?"
Alarm bells were going off in Harry’s head. Moody shouldn't even know- couldn't even begin to guess that Harry might've gone somewhere he shouldn't have. He doubted Snape blabbered, and unless Moody was following him around…
"I mingled and had a good time, professor. There were quite a few students there - why aren't you interrogating them? Special case, am I?"
Moody didn't look happy with his deflections. But to be honest, Harry’s never seen the man happy at all.
"Because you're acting shady, Potter. Disappearing all the time. Mingling with dark wizards. Should I be worried?"
"Should I be worried that an ex-auror with several feet of write ups is harassing Harry Potter during his free time? Most likely on the behalf of the headmaster?" Harry tutted. "Would be a shame if it got out. Rita's been especially bloodthirsty lately."
Moody stared at him for an uncomfortably long moment before barking out a laugh.
"Atta boy! Vigilant even with me, eh?"
"Everyone has ulterior motives."
And Moody was seriously beginning to creep him out. He barely even blinked the whole time; just stared at Harry like a dog at a piece of expensive steak, and Harry was ready to blast him away at a moment's notice. Whatever this was, was seriously starting to raise his hackles. This must be an ambush of some sort. Harry trusted his instincts.
"Who sent you that letter earlier?"
Harry froze briefly, then narrowed his eyes. "Respectfully, sir, it's none of your damn business, is it? In fact - I need to write a reply." He stepped towards the door. "Pronto."
Moody moved to stop him. "I'm afraid not, Potter-"
Knock knock knock
Harry was about to pull out his wand because Moody had an insane look in his eyes that just screamed he was about to do something stupid, so whoever was at the door probably saved Harry from cursing a teacher.
The door opened to reveal-
"Luna? What are you doing here?" Harry’s voice was laced with confusion. He hasn't seen her in quite a few days.
"Hello Harry. Professor." She gave Moody a surprisingly harsh look. "I need to borrow Harry. There's a group of blubbering impsies and I need his help to catch them before they go away."
"The- what?" Luna's statement must've confused Moody enough that the insane gleam from his eyes was starting to disappear.
Luna smiled dreamily. "Blubbering impsies. They're dancing. It's their courting season."
"A-" Moody was truly baffled and trying to figure out Luna, but really, it was simpler to just not ask.
Harry offered her a grateful smile and said: "Of course, Lue. Sorry, professor, it seems like I have more pressing matters to attend to. I guess I'll see you during the next DADA class."
"Uh-huh. Stay out of trouble till then."
Harry didn't even bother with an answer and quickly vacated the office, ignoring the shivers that went down his spine when he turned his back to Moody.
"Thank you, Luna, you're godsend," he whispered. "He was acting weird."
She smiled. "Of course. It's a stressful time for him. You'll understand when the time comes."
Harry frowned at the cryptic answer, but decided not to question it. He wasn't going to get a straight answer anyway.
"Where are we actually going?"
"The weather is wonderful today, isn't it? The lake looks beautiful too. Like a wonderland."
"I didn't bring my coat."
"It's okay." Luna opened her bag and pulled out his new winter coat. "Dobby was a dear and helped me out. He even packed us some snacks. You should visit him."
He really didn't want to. That insane elf tried to kill him at every turn, even if it was in order to save him.
Draco will be furious when he finds out his prior elf worships Harry now. It will be a shitshow: the blond hated losing things.
Maybe he should send Lucius a pair of socks, saying it was from Dobby? What will that blond tosser do? Send him even more wine? With the threats Harry made he wouldn't dare send anything cursed, no matter how angry Harry made him.
Maybe he could even get Dobby to make some for Voldemort. But he was in that disgusting homunculus - he'd probably need something more convenient, like a tiny bag or something similar to a long sleeve, perhaps.
That would definitely get him on the ‘to be killed immediately and as painful as possible’ list, not to mention what Tom would do to him.
He really was pushing his luck these days, but Harry needed some amusement in his life too.
"You shouldn't do that - Madam Pomfrey will smother you," Luna said suddenly, amused. "Even in the muggle world glitter bombs cause impossible amounts of chaos and rage. It's unhealthy for one's sanity."
"Really, Luna. You're driving me insane," he said with no small amount of affection. "I know you wouldn't answer if I asked and it's driving me up the wall."
She just smiled mysteriously.
"Your secrets are safe with me."
"I know."
She really was a seer, Harry thought and believed himself to be an absolute oblivious idiot not to have noticed before. The signs were all there - it was just that Trelawney was giving a bad name to actual seers.
Like Luna.
People didn't understand her and thought her loony, which in turn made Harry curse happy.
"Things are better now," the girl said. "Nobody takes my things anymore even if they still call me Loony Luna."
"Who?" Harry gritted his teeth. "Just give me their names."
"Harry, you cannot fix everything and I don't mind. I don't think loony is a bad word, it just makes me different. Different is a good thing."
They stopped walking and Harry turned to observe the lake.
It was completely still. Eerie even.
Luna bent down to pick something from the ground, although Harry wasn't sure what, since the earth was still fully covered in snow, and was baffled to see her holding a flower.
A snowdrop.
Luna reached over to him and tangled it in his hair, smiling all the while while doing it. Somehow she managed to procure another one and placed and clipped it into her own hair.
"This symbolises new beginnings, Harry, and we are on the cusp of something great. I have hope you'll overcome whatever fate throws your way. You're special like that.”
Luna reached into her bag - Harry was certain now there was an expansion charm on it - and pulled out a small package.
"Wish Tom a happy belated birthday from me. We'll speak again soon."
"Luna, I-"
"Harry Potter?"
Harry turned around to see Viktor Krum standing next to the tree and staring at him intently, like a proper creep
Was this an ambush?
"Yes?" He said in a clipped tone. He wasn't sure what to think of the Durmstrang students; they kept to themselves, mostly, and all of them avoided Karkaroff. And Karkaroff avoided them in turn and had his eyes only for Krum.
As if Krum and his limelight were going to protect him from the Dark Lord, Harry scoffed. That man's days were numbered and he damn well knew it.
"May I speak with you for a moment?"
"Yes, although you can speak in front of Luna. She's a dear friend of mine."
Krum regarded Luna carefully, then nodded.
"Very well. I wanted to apologise for how my date acted during the Ball-"
"You don't need to apologise to me for Granger," Harry gritted his teeth. "Everything she's done is her own fault and it isn't yours that you didn't see her true self before that night."
"Yes, she's rather brash and doesn't like to change her beliefs," Luna said absentmindedly, looking somewhere between the trees. "Some people are too narrow minded to see the big picture."
“She is very smart,” Krum said, receiving a roll of eyes from both of them.
“Memorising books isn't a sign of intelligence,” Luna chirped.
“Is that all you've wanted?” Harry asked, eager to get out of here. He still couldn't fathom why Krum couldn't have said that to him in the castle. Or not said that at all - he really didn't care.
“Uh… I overheard your friends planning a quidditch game, since yours, apparently, was canceled this year. Are other schools allowed to join?”
Harry grinned. “Krum, they'd be kissing the ground you walk on if you asked to fly together. You're kind of popular, no?”
The foreigner's mood immediately soured.
“I'd go under disguise. I heard you're very good as well.”
Harry shrugged. “I'm decent.”
“He's being humble. Harry's the youngest seeker of the century,” Luna smiled, ignoring Harry’s glaring. “Perhaps you could fly together.”
“I'd like that,” Krum grinned. “I'd like some competition.”
Harry huffed, checking out his nails nonchalantly. “Are you that desperate to lose to me again? I already beat you with the dragon.” He grinned.
“You had an advantage. We were very impressed.” Krum did look impressed. “I heard you received many offers to use your gift.”
Harry's mind wandered to an unanswered stack of letters down in the Chamber, offers for him to translate what dragons are saying, downright begging from some to come to Egypt and help to solve curses lain down centuries ago by those who spoke parseltongue.
Quite frankly, Harry completely forgot about them, and it wasn't like he was actually going to accept any of them; he was too busy trying to cause chaos in Britain to go translate whatever dragons had to say in Romania, even if those offers came with a hefty lump sum of money.
Maybe next summer if he's still alive.
“Don't have time for that. But I'm always down for flying.”
Harry grinned, receiving a grin back in return.
“You have a deal, Harry Potter.”
Huh. Seems like Krum isn't so bad, after all, Harry thought when walking back to the castle. He didn't seem like a pompous idiot at all.
Not that Harry had much time to observe him being busy as he is.
Yet he still wondered if this was some ploy of Karkaroff to get closer to him, or get rid of him as a competition.
He should probably go hiss at him or something, just to remind him of his ticking time.
Yes, Harry grinned viciously. He's definitely going to do that the next chance ge gets.
"That utter tosser!" Harry raved, pacing down in the Chamber of Secrets while Tom watched him with an amused glint in his eyes, finding the whole thing endearing. "Who does he think he is to threaten me?! After I send him a gift!"
Tom choked up. "Youwhat?"
A sheepish smile bloomed on Harry's face.
"So uh… I might've sent him some stuff… I mean, it was your birthday, yeah? Only fair your worse half receives something too."
"And what exactly did you send to elicit such a violent response?" Tom asked carefully. Harry’s manic grin from earlier was now starting to make sense.
"Ah, nothing he shouldn't have expected. I mean, what do you send to the Dark Lord? Just a general gift basket. You know, some objects I thought he'd appreciate, a few books, those pastries you basically inhale but pretend to scoff at, some uh… glitter bombs-"
"Some what?!" Tom hissed angrily.
Harry shrugged. "Oh, just some balls that once squeezed shoot glitter everywhere. Gred and Forge showed them to me a few weeks back and I loved them. It's not even magical and it's impossible to get all the glitter out." Although he was certain the twins enchanted the glitter so it couldn't be vanished easily. Or at all. "While I'm thankful his insane plan indirectly helped to get me emancipated, I'm also mad he tried to imprison me and steal you. And let's not forget he still wants to wipe me off this earth, so… that gift basket was entirely deserved as was everything in it."
While fuming, Tom couldn't even argue with that. He wasn't sure whether to curse Harry or to kiss him.
"That was incredibly reckless of you," he said eventually, still clenching his teeth. "You're lucky he didn't place a flesh eating curse on the letter. I, probably, would have."
Harry rolled his eyes. "He knew I'd check. Besides, nothing bad happened!"
Tom pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering how the hell could Harry be so brilliant and an absolute idiot at the same time. Who in their sane mind sends things like that to a person who is actively trying to kill you?
"You'll be the death of me," Tom whispered eventually. "What else did his letter say?"
"Just look at my memories," Harry offered, sounding a little too eager.
The older boy shook his head. "Legilimency might disturb your mental shields right now. I'm not risking it or the progress you've made so far."
Harry scoffed. "Fine." Then recited as much of the letter as he could remembered. "It's a shame it disintegrated; I would've loved to frame it and put it on my wall. My first ever letter from the Dark Lord."
"Might be your last, too, if you keep this up, dear. You're acting unhinged."
Harry turned to Tom, shooting him a cheeky grin. "And you love me for it."
A sigh. "Unfortunately."
"Because if I wasn't, I'm pretty sure I would've chucked you into the Black Lake the moment I felt your magic. Hey, maybe you could've taken over the Giant Squid! An opportunity missed right there."
Tom stared at Harry for a long moment, his expression pinched, eventually choosing to walk over and cusp the boy's cheeks, lifting his head towards himself.
Harry beamed.
"Have you been hit with a cheering charm, dear?" He mumbled, still frowning. Something felt off. Harry wasn't this flippant, usually. Or this reckless.
"Everything's fine, kitte- ouch!" He pushed Tom off. "Stop pinching me!"
"Stop calling me kitten then."
Harry grinned. "Tomcat then."
Slytherin's eye twitched. If anyone else dared to say this to his face…
"You're insufferable."
"You have an insane counterpart that lives in a homunculus, Tom, I think I win."
That was true, however much it hurt his ego to admit it. Although Tom could tell that him being near helped more than a little with Voldemort’s sanity, which only meant one thing; horcruxes destabilised his sanity. Completely obliterated it, and fixing it will be an issue. It was hard to mend the soul of a person who didn't want it to be mended.
But that was a problem for another time; Harry was acting weird.
More than usual.
"Is there something else going on?" He asked, careful not to sound accusatory.
"What? No! Why- what else is there to happen? Pretty sure corresponding with the Dark Lord is the most important thing right now. Hey, do you think I should send something back? I probably should and I was going to: it feels impolite to leave his threats unanswered. Wouldn't want him to feel ignored-"
"Harry," Tom called the rambling boy softly. "Tell me."
Harry froze, nervousness radiating from his body in spades.
He bit his lip.
"There- well, it's not- Snape-"
"The healer," Tom guessed, and from Harry’s momentarily panicked look he guessed correctly. No wonder Harry was borderline hysterical. "Darling, I told you a million times: it's for your own good and it is nothing to be nervous about. You signed a contract. No one will be the wiser."
"Snape will know," Harry muttered. "I don't want him to know. Not only has he been a git to me for years, but now he's acting like he has a right to know everything!"
"He's a spy," Tom deadpanned. "You're in the middle of two factions of the war and he needs to know where you stand. Plus the connection to your parents… is it that surprising he's so invested? Especially since your debut?"
"I don't care," Harry hissed.
"He's an adult and he will be useful to have on your side. He is on your side. And while you're in school, he will be an ally to have. Don't ruin it, Harry."
"Whatever. Not like I can get rid of him."
"Yes, so, focus your energy somewhere else. Like, on me."
He shoved him, although Tom was pleased to see a reluctant smile on the boy’s face.
He did that.
"Shut up. You don’t deserve my attention," Harry sniffed, turning his nose up. "I'll just venture out to find a better company."
"Didn't take you for one who likes walking in circles dear, but you do you," Tom teased. "In all fairness, you should venture out and spend time with other students. You've spent too much time down here; people will get suspicious if you don't show up so often."
"People are well aware I prefer my own company and won't dare to question my whereabouts.”
“My my, how much we've grown." Tom pulled Harry back to him, pressing a kiss to those soft lips. "Darling, why do you have flowers in your hair?" Tom plucked it from his hair, frowning. "If you want a crown, you should've just said so. But I hope you realize I will obliterate anyone who touches you."
Heat rushed to Harry’s cheeks. The boy grinned. "That was just Luna."
"The seer?" Tom hummed, eyeing the flower with much much more scrutiny now.
"Yep. Can't believe I never noticed it before and oh! She gave you a gift."
Harry retrieved the forgotten package from his pocket and handed it to the slytherin. "Do I get a reward for the delivery?"
Tom pinched him. "If I haven't reminded you of Luna that package would've never reached me. But fine. Just because I'm feeling so generous."
And really, snogging Harry wasn't a chore, but rather a pleasant experience. Tom enjoyed leaving his marks on Harry. He had to show the world somehow that Harry belonged to him and no one has a right to touch him.
The look of absolute devotion on the gryffindor's face when Tom pulled away also stroked his possessive nature somewhat. He enjoyed knowing Harry felt the same way about him.
"You and I shall send a reply to my counterpart, darling. Perhaps it is wise to keep the communication going if we want to restore his body and sanity as well as lessen his murderous tendencies towards you. I have a hunch that we'll succeed, no matter the insane stunts you pull."
"Why do you say so?"
Tom held the flower up to Harry’s face.
"Luna gave you this, yes?" The boy nodded. "Do you know what it represents?"
"Uh… Luna said something about um… new beginnings and being on the verge of something great? That I'll overcome whatever comes my way?"
Tom beamed. He was right.
"It also represents rebirth, darling. It represents hope. The fact that she gave it to you, let alone found it when this flower shouldn't even be blooming yet means only one thing."
Tom reached for Harry’s hand, bringing it to his lips, thanking the goddess for the gifts she's bestowed on him. "The Fates themselves have blessed our path, Harry. There is no way on earth we will fail now."
Harry beamed at the absolute conviction in Tom's voice and the glee that seemed to spread to him as well.
He felt downright giddy.
"Does that mean the Fates blessed us as well?"
"They blessed me with you,” Tom whispered softly. “How did I get so lucky?”
Harry could feel his cheeks flushing, and he could barely hold Tom's gaze when he said such things.
“Yeah, you're one lucky bastard.” Harry pressed his lips to Tom's, stealing a kiss. “Too bad Voldemort thinks I'm your pet, eh? When, in fact, you're my Tomcat.”
Harry barely managed to free himself from Tom's grasp and ran for the hills, laughing when the older boy cursed and chased after him.
“See?! We're playing cat and mouse!”
A spell zoomed right past his head and Harry laughed, exhilarated. Riling Tom up was his favourite pastime.
Yet, he shrieked when Tom slammed into him, toppling both of them over.
“Not fair!” He shouted when the older slytherin turned him around roughly, but didn't get off. “Your legs are longer.”
“Tough,” Tom spat, glaring at him. “I think you should apologise.”
“For what? I quite like you where you are.” Harry grinned and leaned over to steal a kiss. “Seems like you're really good at this cat and mouse game.”
Tom downright growled and wrapped his fingers around Harry's wrists, slamming them down after Harry tried to pet him. “You'repushingit, darling. My patience isn't without an end.”
“Oh, stop pretending you don't enjoy this,” Harry struggled a little, grinning when Tom's grip tightened. “You're exhilarated. You enjoy the thrill of the chase. Don't you even dare lie to me; I can tell.”
Tom looked like he wanted to strangle him which made Harry grin even more.
“Well then,” Tom said in a carefully neutral tone that just screamed trouble. “If you insist, dear, I believe I must act accordingly and devour my prey. It's only my right.”
Harry's brains didn't even get the chance to comprehend what's happening when Tom descended upon him, kissing him so thoroughly that he was dizzy with the lack of air and couldn't help but ask for more.
“Greedy boy,” Tom whispered and complied, clearly enjoying being the one to leave Harry so breathless.
Even when Tom moved down and bit into his neck, intent to leave his marks on him once more, Harry couldn't help but enjoy being devoured.
He'll definitely be calling Tom a kitten more often if this was going to be the outcome.
"Come on, kitten, show me those claws."
Tom growled and sunk his teeth into Harry’s collarbone, earning himself a whimper. "Be quiet, Harry," Tom whispered and leaned over to steal a kiss, only to bite into Harry’s lip as well, drawing blood. The boy gasped, but Tom didn't allow him any reprieve and swallowed that gasp as well. "You called on a predator, darling, so now be a good boy and take it."
Harry whimpered, unbelievably turned on by Tom's words and Merlin- even his blood on Tom's lips looked so damn good...
Once their lips met again Harry was starting to doubt that he was going to survive this encounter; Tom was clearly aiming to kill him.
Surprisingly, he found that he didn't mind it one bit.