A.N Sorry for the wait, but loving the reviews!
I knew where I wanted this chapter to end, but I just didn't know how to get it there.
I will strive to get the next chapter up sooner!

Enjoy!

Willow slithered to her master. He sighed and looked down at her.

"What is troubling you, young master?" she asked in her native tongue.

"Nothing," Harry started to say, but Willow gave him a look, at least, as much as a snake can. "I'm worried."

"Whatever for?"

"School starts back in a week. I don't know what they'll think of me now," Harry admitted, glancing at yesterdays Daily Prophet.

"What do you think they'll think of you?" Willow asked. Harry sighed and grabbed the paper of his desk and held it down to Willow.

The Boy-Who-Lived- The Next Dark Lord? in large bold letters moved across the top of the paper. Then below it, was a picture of him from the Department of Mysteries.

"I don't understand."

"The whole Wizarding world probably thinks I'm a crazy, power-craved lunatic, intent on taking over the world and killing all the Muggleborns," Harry explained with a mean grimace on his face.

"But obviously you aren't," Willow tried to reason.

Harry sighed again. "Yes, but they aren't going to believe me now, are they? It was bad enough last year when they thought I was lying about Voldemort's return."

"If they are your true friends, they will not believe what they read," Willow assured him, speaking her wise words of wisdom.

"I hope so," Harry said and collapsed on his bed. Willow slithered up beside him, wrapping her tail around his stomach and laid her head in the crook on his arm, a position which she had become to enjoy. Harry didn't mind, he would trail his fingers over her skin. He started to, and then paused.

"I think, when people see you, they will panic. Snakes are usually always said to be Slytherin. And in this age, evil," he said softly. He felt Willow tense.

"Are you saying you want to get rid of me?" She hissed angrily.

"No, not at all. I'm merely saying what could happen," Harry said quickly, and she hissed at him once again for good measure before relaxing back again.

"Good. I'd hate to eat you."

Harry swallowed. "You wouldn't really do that would you?" he asked nervously.

Willow hissed and Harry recognised it as a laugh. "No, young master. I wouldn't dare eat you," she hissed and Harry relaxed and his fingers started tracing the patterns in her scales again.

Harry was just starting to drift off when an owl hoot startled him. He looked up at his window sill and saw Hedwig perching there, a letter tied around her claws. Harry's eyes zoomed onto the letter's writing. He shot up, Willow dropping to the floor in a heap. She slithered away, hissing loudly.

Harry quickly went to Hedwig and untied the letter. She flew to her perch and had a large gulp of water.

Harry stared at the letter in his hand. He couldn't believe it. It was the first letter he'd gotten over the summer that wasn't from Dumbledore or Snape. But that wasn't what shocked him. It was who wrote the letter that mystified him. Not a single word from them all summer, then one letter, a few days after that horrid article in the Daily Prophet.

"Hermione," he breathed and with shaky hands he turned it over and opened it up. It was only a short letter, but a letter nevertheless.

"Oh, Harry," it read.

I can't believe what the Daily Prophet wrote, saying that you're going to become the next Dark Lord. It's simply barbaric. After everything you've done for the Light, it's silly to even think that you're going to change sides.
Before you even say anything else or throw out my letter, I'm sorry!

I couldn't write before, and no, that isn't an excuse. Early in the summer, I went over to the Burrow and Ron asked me out. He has been nothing but nice to me, but then he read the article in the Prophet. Well, let's just say he kind of exploded. You know how he is.
I think he had been angry at you because of the Department of Mysteries incident last year, with the brains and you getting all the attention. You know he's like that.

But he never said anything until the article.
Oh Harry! I'm sorry, but he believes the Daily Prophet. I can't convince him otherwise.
He's stopped me doing anything about you. I can't even say your name without being yelled at.
I know he's wrong; Harry, but I love him. You know that. I always have and I can't lose him over this. I know you must hate me, for not writing, but I couldn't. Ron wouldn't let me leave his sight.
I only have minutes before Ron and his family get back from Diagon Alley. So I'm going to be quick.

I'm sorry about everything that's happening. I can't change Ron's mind, to be honest, I don't think anyone can. I hate what's happening to you, but I know you can beat it. I will always believe in you Harry, even if no one else does.
When we get back to Hogwarts, don't hate me. I love Ron, I can't leave him now.

I'm sorry.

Hermione.

P.S. I really hope you've finished all your homework!

Harry slumped back on his bed. Ron believed that he'd gone dark, which means that most of the Wizarding World would believe the same thing. He groaned. Harry knew that this year wouldn't be easy.

Willow slithered back into the room.

"I thought you were angry with me," Harry hissed and sighed.

"I could smell your worry," she replied, sliding back up onto his bed.

Harry sighed again. "Is it that obvious?"

"To me."

"Great," Harry said sarcastically.

Willow just hissed at him.

"One week," he reminded himself.

Harry got up and walked to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He wasn't the same boy he left Hogwarts as. He had changed. And now, it seemed that people would think he had changed for the worse.

He tilted his head to himself and studied his face. His face had changed a lot. His cheekbones had become more prominent and his nose more angular. Harry was no longer a carbon copy of James Potter. He was becoming more like Lily.

His hair had become much longer, covering his trademark scar much more and hanging on his shoulders.

He sighed again. Everyone would think he had gone dark with his long hair, loss of glasses and his make up.

Harry did a quick glamour charm over himself, one that he'd learnt in an advanced charms book, to make him look like he used too. Shorter hair, glasses and softer features. He conjured a pair of glasses, the ones he used to wear and put them on.

He looked at himself, or what he used to look like. He looked, younger, vulnerable and lastly, and most noticeable, he looked innocent. Harry Potter wasn't innocent; in fact, he'd used an unforgivable curse just the year before.

"Well if that's what you looked like before, never go back," Willow hissed, startling him.

Harry laughed and removed the glamour. Yes, he decided, he looked much better now.

"It's true," Willow said, making her point.

"Yes, I know Willow. Thank you," Harry said looking down at her.

"You're welcome." She smiled up at him, showing off her sharp fangs.

"What should we do now?" Harry asked her.

"Let's go out. This house is boring now," Willow told him.

Harry agreed. He grabbed his hooded jumper and put it on and his shoulder bag. He checked his make-up, fixing up the concealer on his scar before pausing at the front door. Willow slithered downstairs to him, and then crawled up his jeans leg. She coiled herself around Harry's neck like a scarf. Harry adjusted her a bit before opening the door. He welcomed the cool wind that hit his face.

When Harry first took Willow out, he was worried that Muggles would notice and come up to him or run away screaming. But they never did. In fact, they didn't even notice him. It wasn't till he got home that Willow told him she was a magical snake. She told him that she had turned herself invisible to Muggles, just like she was doing now around his neck. Willow also mentioned having some other gifts, but she refused to tell Harry what they were.

So, Willow and Harry walked peacefully through the town of Surrey, walking through the poorly kept parks and the gloomy streets. They didn't talk, but when they did, they spoke few words.

There was comfortable silence.

"Are you going to reply to the letter?" Willow asked him, obviously referring to the letter Hermione had sent him.

"I can't. By the way she writes, it will be too dangerous. Ron will read it."

Harry sighed. He really wished he could write back to Hermione and tell her that everything was alright. But he couldn't. She may be the only person that believes him, and right now, if she has to ignore him, then Harry will leave her alone.

Because that's just the kind of person that he is.

"Let's go shopping," Harry said, walking towards the London shopping area.

Willow groaned and Harry laughed. "Wow, I've never met a woman who hasn't liked shopping," Harry said, grinning.

"I've never met a man that has," Willow retorted back, hissing, before going back to mumbling something incoherent.

Harry smirked, but stayed silent.

He walked through the busy streets of London, weaving through the people when he stopped suddenly. He looked through the shops window and grinned.

"Yes!" Harry hissed happily and Willow groaned again.

"Must you get a tattoo as well?" she asked sighing as Harry entered the tattoo parlour.

When Harry didn't answer her she grumbled and rearranged herself on Harry's neck. He went up to the tattooist, a twenty-something year old, covered in all sorts of tattoos and piercings, who was rifling through folders of tattoo samples. When he heard Harry approach he looked up.

"What do you want?" he asked rather rudely. Harry glared at him.

"A tattoo obviously," Harry said in a voice that said 'duh!'

The tattooist stood up sharply and eyed Harry up and down, scrutinising him.

"How old are you?"

"Old enough," Harry asked in a cold voice. The man looked convinced.

"Okay mate. What tattoo do you want?" he asked, motioning to the walls of the parlour showing all the types of tattoos he could get.

"I want a snake," Harry said, not even looking at the samples.

"Okay, we have a few snakes that you can look at," the man started, walking over to the far wall which held animals.

"If I give you a drawing of one, can you use that?" Harry asked him, knowing that the snake he had wouldn't be the one's he wanted.

"Sure, we could figure something out."

"Great."

Harry then went rifling through his shoulder bag, pretending to look for the drawing, but what he was really doing was using his wand to create a picture from his memory. He finished one and held it out to the tattooist.

He looked at the picture of Willow. He obviously hadn't seen a snake like this before.

"I think I'd be able to do it," he said nodding at the picture.

"Great. How much?" Harry asked.

"Depends how big you want it and if you want it in colour."

"I want it wrapped around my bicep," Harry said, motioning how he wanted the tattoo to wrap around his arm.

The tattooist walked back to his desk and pulled out a tape measure from one of the drawers.

"You'll need to take off your jumper, mate," he said.

He walked Harry in to the back part where he took off his bag and jumper and put them next to the chair that was provided. Harry held out his arm and it was measured.

"You want it in colour?"

"Yeah."

"Will probably be round 50-75 pounds," he said.

"That's fine."

"Okay then. If you want to take a seat," the tattooist said, pointing to the chair. Harry pretending to scratch his neck, but really, he adjusted Willow so that the tattooist, whose name he still didn't know, would accidently bump her and freak out.

"I can't believe your doing this," Willow hissed in his ear, her voice low enough that the man wouldn't be able to hear, but Harry would be.

"I don't need your permission," Harry murmured under his breath, but Willow heard him and hissed.

"Did you hear that?" the man asked suddenly. Harry look over at him, a confused look plastered on his face.

"Hear what?" Harry asked, feigning confusion.

"It was like a hiss or something," he explained, looking around the room.

"No, I didn't hear anything," Harry lied and sat down.

The man shrugged and sat down. He pushed back Harry's sleeve and turned around to his tattoo table. He grabbed the bottle of disinfectant and poured some on some cotton wool. He rubbed it over the place that Harry wanted his tattoo.

Harry relaxed in his chair; he'd be there for a few hours.

Harry winced as he put his jumper back on.

After three hours, his tattoo was finished, but still sore.

"Serves you right for getting the blasted thing," Willow hissed angrily.

"I don't know why you're getting angry! It's of you!" Harry hissed back at her.

"You were complaining to me earlier about how you were afraid how people would react when they found out you had a snake, imagine what they're going to say when they find out you have a tattoo!" Willow argued, but Harry was not deterred. He just wanted to get home and have a pain potion.

"They won't find out. I have to wear robes anyway, and if I'm not wearing robes, I'll be wearing my hoodies," Harry replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder and walking back down the street.

"Then why get it in the first place?!" Willow asked, exasperated.

"Because I wanted it."

Willow sighed; obviously figuring out this was a battle she wasn't going to win. Besides, he'd already gotten the tattoo. There wasn't much she could do about it anyway.

They walked back in the house in silence, Harry wincing ever now and then from the tattoo rubbing up against his jumper.

He mentally slapped himself. If he couldn't handle a tattoo, how was he going to deal fighting Voldemort?

Harry opened the door to the Hell House and groaned in relief when he took his bag off his shoulder. He pulled out his wand and summoned a pain potion from his bedroom and walked into the kitchen. He pulled of his jumper, biting his tongue as his jumper rubbed up against his tattoo…again.

Harry looked at the tattoo, well tried to. It was hard to make it out as it had that protective cover over it. It was supposed to help with stopping friction, but it didn't. He uncorked the vial of potion and gulped it down, moaning happily as the pain went away almost instantly.

He looked through the cupboard, trying to find something to eat, but found nothing. He knew he should have gone grocery shopping! He sighed and grabbed the telephone and dialled up the Chinese take-away.

After ordering his favourite foods, he walked upstairs to his bedroom and collapsed on his bed.

He was lucky that Willow and slithered off him when he entered the house otherwise he could be fighting with an angry, magical, snake.

Harry continued to lay on his bed until the doorbell rang. He walked down the stairs, and quickly grabbing some money out of his bag before opening the door.

"Chinese?" the delivery person asked.

"Yeah," Harry answered, looking up. It was a girl, couldn't be more than 17, long black hair with red streaks. She had a piercing in her nose and several in her ear. She was wearing a short black and red dress with black Doc Martens. Harry smirked at her, and saw she was eyeing him up, like he had hers.

"15.70," she said giving Harry a saucy smile.

Harry handed over the money and she gave him his Chinese. "Thanks," he said.

"No worries," she said, before walking away.

Harry closed the door quickly and laughed. The girl had looked interested in him, too bad that she was missing a certain part of the anatomy that interested Harry.

The smell of the Chinese made Harry's stomach rumbled and he trudged to the lounge room. He summoned some cutlery and a drink and sat down on the lounge.

He turned on the television and magically changed it to a movie.

Harry opened his food and ate greedily. Ahh, he thought, Chinese is good.

He relaxed back in his leather couch and completely forgot about returning to Hogwarts, but not for long.

"Do I look okay?" Harry asked Willow, looking at himself in the mirror of his bathroom.

"You look fine, Young Master," Willow assured him.

Harry looked into his reflection. He was wearing his black skinny jeans and a deep, crimson red Anarchy hooded jumper and his black, high-top converses. His long hair was covering up his scar and his eyes were rimmed evenly with eyeliner.

Yes, he thought, I look good.

"Can we go now?" Willow asked him, excited to get to Hogwarts.

"Give me a few minutes," Harry told her, rushing back to his room.

He quickly summoned all the things together, making sure that he didn't forget anything.

"Okay," he said, levitating his trunk and Hedwig's cage downstairs. "I'm ready."

"Good. You're worst than a woman!" Willow complained, but happily coiled herself around Harry's neck.

"Shut up you!" Harry laughed and walked out. He slung his bag over his shoulder and dragged out his trunk and cage. He walked down his doorstep where a taxi cab was waiting for him.

"Kings Cross Station, right?" The cab driver asked, sticking his head out the window where Harry was forcing his luggage into the boot of the car.

"Yes," Harry said, pushing in his trunk.

He finally got it in with a nifty little shrinking spell and sat in the backseat with Willow and Hedwig.

The trip to the Station was silent, excluding the noises of busy London.

"That'll be 25 pounds," the cab driver said, parking into the taxi zone of the train station.

Harry paid him and got out quickly. He had plenty of time to spare, but he wanted to get a compartment before they were occupied by other people.

He unshrunk his trunk after getting it out of the boot and walking into the busy station of Kings Cross. Harry walked towards the platform 9 and 10 and quickly checking around him that no Muggles were eyeing him strangely, he entered platform 9 ¾.

Harry smiled happily as he saw the Hogwarts Express. Yes, he thought, walking over to the carriages, I'm going home.

There were a few more people already on the train and a few families on the platform, saying good-bye to their younger children.

Harry tried not to look at the other people and tried to board the train without getting noticed, but as he went to get onto the train, someone came off.

Someone with platinum hair and a sharp, angular face with expensive robes walked straight off the Hogwarts Express and into Harry.

Yes, Draco Malfoy met Harry Potter…again.

Harry looked at him in shock and Draco eyes showed confusion before recognition.

Harry smirked and flicked him long hair back, knowing that Draco could see his scar.

"You!" he spat.

TBC...

Aha! So Draco found out who Harry is.

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Untill next time,

Love Heart.