"Mind-talk" (In this chapter mind-talk won't be italics, but it will in the others..)

Parseltounge

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Harry Potter sat up on his bed when he heard the voice. The book about Dark Arts he had been reading fell at his side. He had stolen it along with many others from the Restricted Section of Hogwart's Library believing now more than ever that he had to fight Dark Arts with Dark Arts. He didn't care what Dumbledore or any others on the Light Side said it was his life was on the line, and he would do EVERYTHING it took to survive.

The whisper had broken his concentration though. What did it mean? Of course, 'What are you doing?' usually means just that but to repeat it over and over again, why? And most importantly who was it?

"Isn't it obvious?"

Harry shook his head to clear it nine hours of studying could really play with ones mind. It probably was only his imagination and Moody's insistence of paranoia on his behalf: having a madman chasing after you could do that too.

But he couldn't stop thinking about it anyway. It was low, like a whisper. You could almost not hear it. But every time it was said it was that little bit higher, like it was trying to get his attention without disturbing too much. A small shiver was sent down his spine. Hearing voices were never good, not in the Wizarding World nor the Muggle one.

The voice he had heard in his second year had turned out to be a giant killing snake, out for the lives of Muggle-borns. He snorted. If it hadn't been for the fact that he was the one, and only, with the power to 'vanquish' the Dark Lord he would gladly meet the Basilisk again and this time stare right in to its deadly gaze. It would be worth it to just be dead, to be allowed to just painlessly drift away, to finally be with his parents and Sirius.

However, he still had the Prophecy hanging over his head! He couldn't let himself just give up, it's not the thing that a hero could or would do. He was the 'Chosen One' as the papers liked to call him these days. The Chosen One. He snorted again. They didn't know how right they were.

He had gotten the name because of the 'rumour' that the battle occurring a mere couple of weeks ago had to do with the prophecies. That rumour was true, that was why the Ministry tried to cover it up. They didn't succeed.

They were right about the death of Sirius Black too. But not HOW he had died or his supposed crimes. They had given a statement saying 'You-Know-Who's most loyal follower has been finally been caught and killed by Ministry-forces.' Bullshit. A third snort.

The Ministry was always lying or twisting the truth to suite them and no one else: especially now with Voldemort on the loose again. Sure he had been back for a year but the Ministry had denied the rumours so they wouldn't have to admit their inability to handle a terrorist. But when Lord Voldemort himself had the pleasure of showing up at the Ministry and several people actually saw him, they couldn't deny Voldemort's return any longer.

Forcing himself to stop thinking about what happened at the Department of Mysteries and on this current mystery, he focused on the voice. When he did that it became louder, and he could recognise it somehow, but not place it.

"What are you doing?" Without really thinking about what he was about to do, he did it. Typical Gryffindor!

"Who are you?" The voice chuckled.

It was a mans voice well he'd figured that much out but who was it?

"Think, Harry Potter, Think!"

Harry realized suddenly, "Voldemort!"

Harry mentally banged his head against the nearest hard surface. Of course, Voldemort! Who else had access to his brain twenty-four seven?

"Precisely!" Harry could feel Voldemort's smile wherever he was as he inquired again, "Now, what are you doing?"

"Studying," He quickly added, "To kill you. What do you want?"

With a knowing smirk Voldemort a.k.a. Tom Riddle states, "Oh, just a small chat."

"Chat away then if that's what you want."

"You know, sarcasm doesn't really suite you. Besides, it's not going to work if we are to be Friend," Voldemort adds attentively.

"Friends!? You've tried to kill me at five different occasions! Give me ONE good reason to be friends with you!"

Silence, Ten seconds, Thirty seconds, One minute, of total silence, before Voldemort with a small hint of sadness replies quietly, "She wasn't suppose to die you know. I know you can hear it through the Dementors. She wasn't supposed to die. I gave her a way out but she refused to use it."

Harry sat their stunned a moment thinking over what he'd felt from Voldemort. Since when were Dark Lords capable of feeling let alone feeling sadness?

Deciding to clarify the who of Voldemort's statement he asks, "Who? My mother?"

"Yes, Lily Evans, you mother."

He narrowed his eyes as his blood heated Voldemort was not worthy of ever mentioning Lily Potter, EVER. He killed her no matter what he says to justify it he'd killed her. And nothing can or could ever change that.

Harry demanded angrily, "Why is that? She was a muggle-born, a member of the Order, and she got away from you THREE times. You would be furious with anyone who does that. Why were you prepared to let her live?"

"In one word: MAGIC."

"MAGIC," Harry exclaimed in disbelief!

"I will tell you that when you are prepared to listen and believe what I have to say. Good-Bye Harry Potter."

"I will NEVER listen nor believe anything coming from you!" But he was already gone. He had felt it when Voldemort slipped from his mind. He felt empty of a presence that had been there for more than a little while. His scar tickled a little but surprisingly there was no pain. None at all! Weird!

Harry sat there thinking about his mother's death and Voldemort before slowly drifting to sleep. His dreams that night were what he saw when Dementors were near but not exactly. They were dreams, not nightmares or visions. Just simple dreams.

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Three days later and Harry had not heard from Voldemort. Not that he cared or anything. But what Voldemort said about his mother gave him something to think about. And to actually have someone to talk to... No!

After the threat at Kings Cross, the Dursleys had decided to completely ignore Harry once again.

None of them talked to him, they acted as if he weren't there. He wasn't locked in his room this summer though, but he couldn't go outside the four walls of number 4 Privet Drive: Dumbledore's orders. As if Voldemort would actually attack Little Whinging! Umbridge had already done that. He wasn't to leave after his birthday this summer either. And the Weasleys had orders not to kidnap him and he had orders not to run away.

He wanted someone to talk to, hear someone's voice. Not read letters that were coded and as impersonal it could possibly get. Sure, Ron and Hermione did the best that they could but the three of them were notorious for breaking rules, especially those meant for safety. Harry smiled at all the things they had done together during the five years they had known each other. That was why it hurt so much when he got letters like Ron had sent yesterday:

Hi mate

There is not so much to tell really. We're all fine though!

Sister has gone to some muggle summer camp. Mum and

Dad recons it is the safest place for her to be right now.

They don't think You-Know-Who would think of attacking her there.

They are not sure about here though. I hope everything

is all alright with you. See you at school again!

'Brother'

P.s I'm sorry you have to stay at your 'there' the whole summer, we tried!

It was short, coded. He knew what it meant though. Gin was off in the Muggle World, the Weasleys were left at the Burrow. Dumbledore had said not to invite him to live with them, and they hadn't said anything against him. Screw Dumbledore, Harry was lonely, and extremely so! If only... Voldemort. He was someone to talk to, and maybe if he appeared to trust him, maybe he would tell about Lily? It was a long shot but worth a try..

"Hello?" Harry called; No answer. "Are you there?"

Harry concentrated on the link, but to response. He was just about to get back to reading when Voldemort finally replied.

Clearly amused by Harry's desperation for company, "You called?"

"Well, yeah... What took you so long?" Harry impatiently demanded.

Tom replied, "I had to clear out a few Death Eaters to talk to my favourite-nemesis."

"Didn't you say something about no sarcasm if we talked again?"

Clearly curious but trying not to show it Tom (Voldemort) asks, "I said sarcasm doesn't suit you, I never said anything about me. So, why did you call anyway?"

Harry now insecure about what he did replies, "Oh... Nothing really."

Oh god he was stupid, and desperate! He was quiet for a while but he still felt Voldemort presence and he could almost see the smirk that was on the man's face now! God he was pathetic!

"Oh well... What are you doing now?"

"Same thing."

Tom states, "I never took you for the whole 'studying'-type. What is it by the way?"

"Defence," Harry answered succinctly trying to put on a good face without giving anything away.

"You're lying; I can tell when you do that you know. You're learning... Ooh, Dark Arts! How come? And won't Dumbledore have a fit when he finds out?"

"So? Technically it's defence and this book is legal..." Harry argued.

Thinking quickly Harry tries to keep his secret stash secret but realizes that Tom isn't going to tell anyone. But he wasn't to tell anyone that, just read, memorise, but it back in the library again. And no one would be any wiser.

Tom smirks then adds almost encouragingly, "I'm not complaining: Especially not about the illegal books that you 'don't' have."

Harry wonders to himself, "How did he know?"

"Why? Why do you want me to study the Dark Arts?"

"Less job for me to teach you when you finally decide to become a Death Eater.. Or the offer I gave you a few years back. Do you remember?"

"You seem awfully certain I will join you eventually do you?"

"Why wouldn't I? I know you're tired by having the world on your shoulders everyone depending on you, and then blaming you for everything that goes wrong. You don't trust Dumbledore any further than you can throw him. Well at least not anymore. You have a darkness you're suppressing because you have to play the act of the 'Golden Boy'. You're growing apart from you're friends because they don't understand you and their lessening effort to help you instead of listening to other's orders. And also the backstabbing when you're not the Golden Boy. REMEMBER!? Think back to when you were chosen to be the fourth Champion, your best friend the Weasley boy turned on you, then the school followed calling you names. That wasn't my idea. I just wanted you in the contest. And after Weasley's snake-bite what they said. You feel like a summer-kitten, 'loved' during the summer when it's wanted, or needed in your case. And disposed and left to die when winter arrives and it's a cat, when it's no longer wanted because it's task is done. I'd say the only thing keeping you on the Light side is your parents' and your godfather's deaths."

Harry was gobsmacked! The snake-faced bastard had told him how he felt exactly as he felt it: except he wasn't really wanted any of the time. He did feel exactly like that. He wiped away tears he didn't know he had shed. It hurt to see the truth like that. But it was true; he was a kitten during summer, and soon to be a cat. He just sat in his bed, curled up against the wall and cried before finally finding his 'voice'.

"How did you know?" He whispered inside his head.

Tom adds almost gently, "I know a lot of how you feel and think being connected to your mind, if you think long enough I think you will know how to predict me too. I will leave you to think, call when you're done."

"Yes please..."

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Harry had done a lot of thinking since his breakdown, and come to a conclusion. He was at least to find out more about Voldemort's 'offer'. And if he didn't like it, then he had inside information. A lot had changed his mind during the last four days. Or, changes had been happening faster then they would have before at least.

Voldemort was right, Harry didn't trust Dumbledore anymore. He did feel different from others, and he was their scapegoat. Much had proved that particular fact. Hermione didn't judge him as much, but it was there. Ron had turned on him completely several times. Ginny hadn't though, never. But they weren't that close really. Neville, well, he was different in a way, they were close in a way that he was with Ginny too, but not friends really. And the same with Luna. She could be.. plain weird sometimes, but she had supported him fully during fifth year. Sirius he didn't dare to think about even.

But the fact remained, they all relied on him now, and they blamed him. Maybe he was just paranoid, but still. It was those thoughts that led him to once again talk to Voldemort, that and the fact that he was lonely.

"I knew you would come back, have you given my words a thought?"

"I have.. And I'm not going for you.. yet." Harry answered smugly. He had thought about it, but he wasn't to tell his decision before he knew who he could trust.

"Indeed. And why not?"

"Firstly, you have tried to kill me, and failed I might add." A loud snort could be heard inside his head, and Harry could only chuckle about it. "Secondly, I don't know anything about you little 'family'."

This time it was Voldemort's turn to chuckle, he himself had said Family.

"Very well then, My family as you so nicely put it, is the ones I called at the Graveyard was them, the Inner Circle. I have far more Death Eaters than that, but those are the closest and most trusted."

"Who are they?"

"Easiest way is too say the ones I 'care' about, the ones I keep bringing out of Azkaban and the ones that are allowed to see more of my manor then the hall I meet them in."

That confirmed his suspicions. He knew Voldemort had some kind of higher group, and Harry's experiences with Death Eaters could at least tell some among them. Wormtail, because he helped him bring back his body. Bellatrix because she seemed so attached to him, and she was on of the four searching after Voldemort instead of trying to stay out of Azkaban. Lucius was mostly because Harry had always thought him as Voldemort's right hand, but he was also at the Graveyard. He didn't have to tell Voldemort this, he must have heard his thoughts through the connection anyway.

"Yes, but Wormtail is on 'vacation' at the moment. And Lucius too, in a way."

"Yeah, I know, I helped put him there. But what about Wormtail, are you tired of the little rat?"

"You could say that, he's living with another member of the Inner Circle for the rest of the summer."

"Ok.. What do they do?"

"Many of the lesser Death Eaters gather information, maybe a less important raid. They are mostly to prove themselves worthy of the Inner Circle because I don't trust them yet. The others, well, they do the same thing and more. More important information, raids and other missions of sorts. The newest Death Eaters mostly gather new recruits.

"So it's kind of the New Circle, the Outer Circle, and the Inner Circle I have in ranks."

"And still it is you who is recruiting me."

"Yes, and don't trust any of them when it comes to you, you little snake." Harry had to smile a little at that, he had a way to wind his way out alive of the trickiest of situations. And also about Voldemort himself, if anyone was a snake it was him. Hell, he used one to gain a new body.

"Yeah, sure, I'm the snake, ever had a look at yourself lately?"

"Ha, snake-face is gone. I look like myself now mind you. No, I have a rat, and a weasel, only thing missing is a snake." Weasel? What weasel? Weasleys? No.. Harry froze in movements. It couldn't be. Fear spread through his body, and his blood felt like ice. 'It couldn't be' he whimpered out to no one in his room, before asking mentally to Voldemort, the question he didn't want to know.

"Weasleys?" It was quiet, and Harry's fear could be heard clearly. But Voldemort found no reason to deny the sixteen-year old the truth. He would find out at a later date anyway.

"Ginevra."

Wrong answer.

"Ginny?! You're lying. You must be.. She's not.. No.. It can't.. How? Why?"

"I'm not lying, she isn't marked, she refuses to that but she won't say why. As for the 'How', well, everything you've heard about Chamber of Secrets and the Diary is wrong. We planned it all. If something were to go wrong, she was to lie, to save her secret. The attacks were planned by the both of us, but executed by her. She is a Parselmouth too by the way. I gave her that ability through the Diary. As for her nearly dying, she offered her life to bring me back, but we didn't know if her life were required so we took a chance. You interrupted us so we never knew.

"Barely two weeks after my reborn she wrote to me, and I sent her a new diary, most for fun of course, and I had the other one in a connected pair. We have talked since then. She is loyal to me, and to you, but she won't take my mark. I suspect it is because of you. As for the 'Why', well, I was there when no one else were, and she believed my cause."

Harry started screaming, Voldemort lied, he just had too. Ginny wouldn't do that. No. He wanted to throw something at him for just saying something like that. But Voldemort could be anywhere near. But loud noises gave one headache right?

"She believed in killing Muggles, Muggle-borns and Blood-traitors for THE FUN OF IT? Ginny would have to kill herself then. And that shit about she sending the basilisk after Hermione and then pretend she was possessed and being friends with her? NO, you're lying."

"I'm not. And as for Granger, she was like your mother, she was not a target. Both Lily and Granger are to valuable. And you're wrong about my cause. I will tell you exactly my beliefs, and they are facts, when you are ready to listen, I have already told you that."

"So, tell me then. Explain to me about your 'cause' as you say it. And do my mother and Hermione to do with it. Explain NOW or I will personally seek you out today and kill you, the Muggle way."

"You are not going to stop screaming in my head until I tell you?"

"No, you're right about that."

The sigh coming through the link couldn't be missed. Nor the unwillingness to tell, but Harry gave him no choice.

"Damn Gryffindor stubbornness. Ok, Fine.."

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After many hours of explaining and questioning Harry knew actually what the current Dark Lord was trying to accomplish, and truths to be told, Harry agreed some what to the cause.

Voldemort explained that many of the old Pureblood-families intermarried to keep the blood pure and the magic strong. There was only one problem. Half of the children born were squibs, and most of them were sent to the Muggle world. Were they themselves married other squibs or muggles. When two squibs had children, the children got magic, inherited from their parents. Squibs had indeed magic, not just enough to use at will. They had a magical core that could heal them quicker for instance. These children were called Squib-born, and were in fact ninety percent of all so called Muggle-borns. That category included Dean Thomas.

The real Muggle-born were born from lines of only muggles. And got their magic by accidently, no one knew exactly how. Because their magic was completely new and undiluted they were very powerful and that magic had to be preserved. That category included non other then Lily Evans and Hermione Granger.

The pureblood-families that didn't intermarry didn't get squibs because there was no incest. Quite simple logic. But instead they married Squib-born, muggles, or Half-bloods instead, and in that way tainted their magic. The difference between, as an example, The Malfoys and the Weasleys, was that Malfoys kept their magic strong, but only half of the offspring got free magic, the sort Squibs didn't have. The Weasleys all got magic, but lower levels per generation because they married muggles without magic or others with low-levels.

With how things were going, the Malfoys would soon not have magic children at all because of incest. And the Weasleys because they had diluted it to extreme levels. And then there were the Potters that had married only purebloods but not the intermarried families and there for always kept their magic strong. A thing Harry was rather proud of. But if things kept going as it were, families like the Potters would not have magic people to marry either. It was a down-going spiral.

Of course, there were exceptions to that rule. In some magic pregnancies the same thing happens that happens to muggles and the child's magic would be extra powerful. Currently there were three wizards alive where that had happened, Albus Dumbledore, Tom Riddle and Harry Potter. Harry also had the advantage of the Potters already strong magic and Lily Evans' new magic, and on top of that, the magic he'd gotten from Voldemort through the scar.

Other exceptions were that children could got the opposite of new magic, giving them lower levels then their parents, but still free magic. Neville Longbottom was an example there.

To test what kind and how much magic someone had, there were a simple spell. Illegal without authority of course. Fuco Magicus. When cast a faint glow of colour would appear around the witch or wizard, on muggles there was no colour. Squibs were red, low-levels were orange, new magic were indigo and free magic and new magic violet. Normal magic were divided into three depending on special talents; Yellow for transfiguration, Green for healing and Blue for other kinds of charms and spells.

What Voldemort were trying to do was to minimise the Squibs and Squib-borns by eliminating them. And also make sure NO witches and wizards intermarried with muggles, and there for keeping the magic pure instead of the blood. He also said that this was the cause all Death Eaters followed, they just acted to follow the Blood-theory to confuse the Light side.

He had laughed when he said that the hardest part was to get families like the Malfoys to marry other families not just their own sort. It had not gone so well yet. And the only murder of muggles he had ever then were his first three, his muggle side in his family as revenge for leaving his mother. Harry could understand that.

It was a lot to take in at once, and certainly a lot to explain more than once. But he got the message. He sat quiet for a while but he knew Voldemort was still in his mind.

"Hey you? I don't like calling you Voldemort, can I call you Tom?"

"Do that if Voldemort annoys you so much, Ginevra does already, at least you two asked first."

"About Ginny, say Hello from me, I can't write to her over the summer."

"I can do that. But I need to leave now, I have big plans for the days to come, I will call you when I have time again. Bye Harry Potter."

"Bye Tom Riddle."

When Harry felt Tom leave, 'wow' was the only word to describe his afternoon. And first now he understood how hungry he was. Silently he went downstairs to the kitchen to eat, now when he actually was allowed to he couldn't not take advantage of that..

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Tom Riddle was happy to have finally told him the truth about Lily. He actually felt a little sorry for her. But now it was out in the open. He was not worried for Harry to say anything about his cause to Dumbledore, for then he would have to say that they had been in contact, and Harry wouldn't want to fell more weird then he already did. Not that he was of course, but years of whispers and backstabbing made his self-esteem low. And Tom knew exactly how the teenager felt, going through the same.

He didn't know what had changed his feelings about the boy, but it had. He didn't want to kill him anymore, and his way out was to recruit him to his cause. Something he at least had wanted for many years. He couldn't wait for the day when the two of them would stand on the same side. That day would be glorious, he knew that for sure.

Smiling in a silly Hufflepuff-way he went in to the bathroom. He couldn't very well piss when talking to Harry, and the gods should know he had needed it for several hours...

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Love you all

-Iiv