Title: Serpent's Kiss
Author: SlytheringAeval
Chapter : Prologue
Pairings: Harry/Draco, others as story progresses
Rating: R (subject to change if story progresses)
Genre: Romance
Disclaimer: I do not make any money off of this, I do not own this, nor do I claim to. All characters herein belong to J.K Rowling and no infringement is intended. It's all in good fun, honest.

"Harry dear are you all right? You look ever so pale…"

Pale? How could he possibly be pale? Surely his face was red his cheeks flaming from the fever that was working it's way into his system. Distantly aware of Mrs. Weasley's fussing he allowed himself to be banished to his room. He didn't look at his friends, didn't want to see their revulsion now that they knew he Voldemort could control him, that he was the one who nearly killed their father. He walked to the room he shared with Ron without another word to anyone, his mind tripping over the conversation he'd overheard with the twin's extendable ears.

Voldemort was possessing him? No, that wasn't right, he couldn't be. Heat rushed into his face again at the fear he'd on the Weasley's faces when they'd heard Moody's pronouncement. He heavily sat on the edge of one of the beds, resting his head in his hands. But how did he bite Arthuer Weasley? The air was gathering in his mouth like a thick blanket. He could barely breathe, never mind think, but he forced his brain to try and make sense of the words, the unnamed feelings that were swirling in his head. He wasn't an animagus.

"If Voldemort is possessing me, then he can see… everything…I'm giving him a clear view into Order headquarters right now…" He would have to leave Grimmauld place. Maybe Voldemort was an animagus and that was how Harry had bitten Arthur. He heavily pushed himself to his feet, the room swaying as the stuffy air engulfed him, dragging at him, pulling him down.

Dizzily he looked around for Hedwig, but the pulsing heat was pushing up through the top of his mouth spreading out in tendrils that snaked into his brain. Wait, Hedwig was at Hogwarts- snakes eat birds don't they?-he stumbled toward his trunk.

"Running away are we?" a thin sneering voice.

"No, not running," Harry said, the words burning on his tongue. He was so thirsty. A nice cold glass of milk sounded wonderful. No, not milk, pumpkin juice. No one drinks milk in the wizarding world.

"I thought to belong in Gryffindor house you were supposed to brave?" The insufferable portrait that shared a space in Dumbledore's office was staring at him with amusement. Phineas Black was an oily looking character and had been a Slytherin before becoming the Headmaster of Hogwarts during his time. "It looks to me like you would have been better off in my own house. We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice we will always choose to save our own necks."

"It's not my own neck," Harry swayed, "I'm saving." It was the others. He had to protect the others. There was something in him, something dangerous that was trying to burn its way out of him, and if it escaped it would hurt those he cared about too much.

"Oh, I see. This is no cowardly flight- you are being noble."

Harry turned around and walked back toward the bed over which the picture hung. Phineas spoke again, watching him with a lazy look of indifference on his face.

"I have a message for you from Albus Dumbledore."

"What is it?" Even with his glasses Harry was having a hard time focusing his eyes. They were so heavy.

"Stay where you are."

Harry sat down on the edge of the bed and stared up at the oily man. His head was pounding in time to the waves of warmth that were spreading through his body. Staying where he was sounded like wonderful advice. He flung his body down to the bed, facedown upon the moth eaten covers., his eyes shut, his body heavy and aching…

As if on cue he found himself walking down a deserted corridor toward a plain black door, past rough stone walls, torches and an open doorway onto a flight of stone steps leading downstairs on the left… The black door, when he reached it could not be opened, and he stood there gazing at it desperation. There was something he wanted, no needed behind that door…

"Harry," Ron's voice came from far, far away. Harry's brows drew together. Ron couldn't be that far away. He tasted so close to Harry, he had to be standing right next to him, right where the warmth was. Warmth. He wasn't so unbearably hot now. But Ron's warmth was leaving him. "Mum says dinner's ready but she'll save you something if you want to stay in bed."

When Harry managed to pry his eyes open Ron was gone.

He doesn't want to be on his own with me, not after what he heard Moody say…

Chapter end notes: The first chapter of my first serious HP fic, I do hope you enjoy.