A/N: Holy crud guys I'm so sorry it took so long to post an update! I'm just now getting to the point I can stay up a bit longer than normal and I'm not as sick and omg Morning Sickness is soooo evil! And the heat hasn't been helping because its making it like I'm back on the sick wagon. But anyways, I'm not 15 weeks along and the baby is going strong! We won't find out the sex for five more weeks buuuuut that's ok as long as its healthy xD

i will try to update more soon ok? I'm so sorry it's taking so long to post new chapters! Enjoy!( if there are any mistakes I'm sorry! I'm so hungry though and I can't think...try to ignore it and the autocorrect?)

Chapter 8-

Harry was running. Ron was behind him with Lockhart, a wall of rubble between them, and ahead was Ginny needing to be saved. But saved from what? That giant basilisk of course! Right? Tom has said that the great beast was actually very nice, when they'd talked together. That had been before someone had broken into his dorm and stolen the diary though. Those talks had been nice. He felt a kindred spirit with the older Slytherin's memory. Both orphans, both parslemouths (though Tom looked more perplexed and contemplative at the new found knowledge). According to the sweet talking memory, only those of the line of Slytherin were gifted with the talent. It made him feel the sting of Tom's imagined disapproval at his rather patchwork heritage. He hoped the older teen would let him prove how worthy he was.
He wasn't a freak! He didn't want to be a disappointment. They both had alot in common after all. They were both regarded as freaks by their caretakers. The two had spent hours discussing everything and Harry found that he enjoyed learning from the older teen. Even if it had only been the teen's memory. Harry felt genuinely accepted.

Biting his lip, he pushed forward. He didn't really care about Ginny. In fact, lately, he'd been feeling rather weird. Like, when outside, he felt hotter than usual, until he got to some shelter. He actually enjoyed the cold of the dungeons, although that was partially due to his reluctance to leave his potions classes. And when he was around others they complained that the room was colder. On top of that, as if that wasn't enough, he was feeling hungry. Nothing he ate made him full! It wasn't a constant hunger. But when it happened he had to struggle not to look like Ron when he ate.
Then there were Ginny's looks. Her lustful, starry eyed, 'I-want-to-hump-him' looks, that she constantly threw Harry's way.
Oh, they made him sick. He was gay. He wanted his Potions Professor to bend him over his desk and perform unspeakable acts on him that only made him blush to think of. He knew it wasn't just a phase. He had tried telling her, and Ron, this but was simply waved off like his opinion couldn't be sound. Which of course irritated him. But, for the sake of his friendship, here he was, traversing the sewers of Hogwarts to get to the Chamber of Secrets, to save a girl he detested.

Finally, he came to a large sealed door. He paused in thought and then shrugged, speaking the word 'open' in parsle. Instantly, the door unlocked and slid open. Stepping through the door, his eyes widened in awe. The Chamber was beautiful! There was a walkway of stone, surrounded by water and interspersed with white columns on each side, that led to a solid white stone platform. On the other side of the platform were stairs that led to a giant stone face of a man he guessed to be Salazar Sytherin himself. Two other walkways branched off to the left of the platform that led to two different rooms, one of which appeared to be a library. At the center of the platform were two figured, and that's where Harry's attention became drawn. As he drew closer he sucked in a surprised breath. Standing beside a seemingly unconscious Ginny, was Tom Riddle. Harry drew closer, catching the attention of the older teen. When Tom realized who exactly was standing before him, he smiled such a charmingly decent smile, that Harry's knees trembled weakly under the soul searing attention. It was the kind of expression that one would think of being chiseled in the statue of some blessed Adonis. No one could deny the teen had a handsome face, even if he wasn't Harry's cup of tea.

Harry grinned back, easily forgetting what he was supposed to be doing. This was a friend. Someone who could help him with his task. His task! That's right! He needed to save Ginny. Turning his gaze to the girl at their feet he knelt.

"She's still alive, right?"

Tom's eyes narrowed.

"You mean to save her?"

Harry scoffed before he could stop himself. He had no choice in the matter. The girl was the little sister of his best friend. He was obligated right? It was his duty...right? Tom Riddle frowned, as if sensing his confusion. His dilemma.

"It is expected of me to save her. After all, she's my best friend's sister. But I've been feeling sick lately, and really don't like her enough to care."

Tom smirked, his brown eyes dancing with humor. Well wasn't this interesting? The Boy Wonder didn't feel like saving the red haired nit? He wondered if, this boy he'd been conversing with for months, was more like him than Dumbledore surmised. Still, and here Tom frowned, this odd feeling he was getting from the child, it was niggling at him. This child felt like...well...like he did. A soul fragment. But more than that, there was a further connection and the cold that poured from the young Gryffindor was palpable. The utter chill.

"Just because people expect something from you, doesn't mean you have to comply to their wishes, Harry."

Harry's expressive green eyes became downcast.

"You don't understand! I'm a freak and a nobody at home, that's all I'm expected to be. Here, in the wizard isn't world, I'm supposed to kill off Voldemort," he didn't notice Tom's flinch," a man who supposedly killed my parentS, who I have no memory of in the first place! I'm not to be friends with Slytherins because they are all evil just like Voldemort, and speaking parseltongue is like declaring you are said Dark Lord's heir or something! I hate it! But I don't know what else to do! I don't want to fight someone I know nothing about!" He was close to tears by the time he'd finished and Tom inexplicably felt the teen's wish for it all to end.

The Slytherin memory pondered this new information. He felt rage suddenly wash through him at the thought of Harry's learning being stunted because of an old coot's wish for Voldemort to die. He saw with curiosity that as he felt his anger a slight twitch of fear showed on Harry's face and he stepped back from Tom, even though said Slytherin's features had remained blank.
How was this possible? This feeling of each other's emotions? Well one thing was for sure. This child certainly was a puzzle.

"Well. I can tell you that Voldemort went through similar things when younger."

"How do you know?"

Tom smirked and drew his name in the air with Ginny's wand. Then he rearranged the letters and Harry's eyes widened in both fear and loss.

TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE

I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

Harry felt...he didn't know what to feel. On one hand he felt afraid. What if Voldemort was going to finish off what he couldn't all of those years ago? On the other hand he felt betrayed. Used. For months he'd been pouring his heart out to Tom Riddle, without knowing that said man was the man he was supposedly destined to kill. Feeling glimpses of these emotions, Tom sighed and banished the spell.

"You have no reason to fear, child. I have neither used you nor betrayed you. You have been welcome company compared to the redhead menace. I don't know why but you intrigue me, therefore I will return this child her life force and if you leave without the diary, I promise to stop the Baslilisk's attacks and you two can go free."

"You won't kill me?"

"No. I wish to figure you out. Depending on what I find is how I shall react. Know that, for now, you and I are not enemies, but not comrades. Agreed?"

Harry's stomach plummeted. He'd lost a friend. A memory, his enemy even, but someone he'd felt close to these past months. It hurt. Tom chuckled softly and ruffled his hair.

"We shall meet again. Until then, trust your instincts." He informed in all seriousness.

Harry nodded and felt approval flowing into his body, filling him with relief. He didn't understand why he was feeling an emotion other than his own, but he didn't question it.

"I hope, Tom, that we can be friends again. I don't want to kill anyone. Especially because someone stated that it was my destiny."

The Tom memory seemed startled, as though no one had told him such a thing before. He tilted his head to the side, looking vulnerable, before giving a slight nod.

"Let us hope for the best then."

Harry felt his stomach clench as he picked up the youngest Weasley and made his way out of the enormous room. He was going to miss their talks. But he knew that he needed some answers first. First off though, how was he going to get out? It was then that Fawkes gave a loud trill and...

Harry blinked sleepily as he felt the last tendrils of the dream leave. He had forgotten about that day. Hadn't kept up on his end of the bargain, to find out out whether or not he should kill Voldemort. 'Because we say so' didn't seem like a very good excuse anymore. He needed answers, but it wasn't like he could just walk up to someone and ask. And then there were those times he'd felt an emotion that wasn't his own, seep into his mind. The strange random times that he hasn't been able to put his finger on, but had just felt off in general. As if there was something he should recognize but wasn't.
Who could he trust to talk about this? Of course Cedric or even Atropos but he was sleeping with Luna tonight, as it was her turn, and so he'd have to wait until tomorrow ; before curfew in case of talking to Atropos. Frustrated, he sat up and shook Luna carefully. Immediately her blue eyes locked with his, a question in their depths.

"I can't sleep."

"A lot on your mind?"

He nodded and bit his lip.

"Is there a way to get information on Voldemort? Real information from someone who has spent a great deal of time around him? I need some things explained to me." He admitted childishly. He felt so foolish for asking her such a question. When she was obviously tired.
However, Luna simply grinned while her eyes glazed over in thought. This went on for a few minutes before the lovely orbs brightened.

"A Death Eater would know."

Harry blanched. Where would he be able to find a Death Eater? As far as he knew they didn't exactly like him. Killing ones boss has that affect apparently. Seeing his face, Luna giggled and grabbed his hand, tugging him towards the door after grabbing her side satchel, both still in their pajamas.
They left the Ravenclaw dorms quickly and quietly as shadows, stealing down the corridor, towards the dungeons. He was puzzled. Where were they going?

"You said you need to talk to a Death Eater right?" Luna stated as they turned into the corridor that led to the Slytherin common room.

He nodded, hoping shed elaborate. Instead, she stopped in front of a large painting of a hawk. She knocked on the portrait and pulled Harry close to her, looping their arms together. Harry smiled at her, exasperated that she wasn't very forth coming with her answers. His smile froze when one Severus Snape opened the door. Harry turned to Luna, and pointed at the Potions Master who stared at them in confusion.

"He's a Death Eater? Are you sure, sis?" He asked, nearly missing the Head of Slytherin House's eyes darken with some mix of emotion that Harry couldn't identify. Was it perhaps fear of being caught? Anger? Or shame?
He turned his attention back to the blonde hanging off his arm. Three days after his run in with Ron, Luna has insisted he call her sister. Feeling honored, he had complied. Her eyes lit up every time the seemingly innocent word passed his lips.

Nervously, Harry turned his eyes back to his teacher and winced at the cold mask he saw in place of the surprise from before. He didn't like when Severus showed this face. Over the past few weeks they'd come to more of a truce and he really didn't wish to go back to what it was before.

"Sir, I need information. It appears you are the one I can trust to give me the truth." He stated in a voice little louder than a whisper.

He knew that the fact Severus was a Death Eater was probably confidential, and he was willing to make sure no one else knew about it. The man had saved his life after all. He was willing to keep a few secrets. Severus must have distinguished his pure intentions in his expression because he merely scowled and allowed them to enter.
Luna smiled as they were escorted into Severus' living room and made to sit on the couch there, while Severus sat across from them in a large black recliner.

"Now why do you need Death Eater, Harry?" Asked the dour man after he ordered tea, "And why are you still dressed in your pajamas?"

Harry blushed and realized that all of them were similarly under dressed. It was somewhat embarrassing and, in a dark, sinful way, a little intriguing to see the Professor that he desired so unreserved despite his stoic mask that he leveled the two with. Harry pushed the rising interest in the way the man's sleep wear fit his form, away furiously. He was intent to focus on the task at hand. Information. Right.

"Dressing this way...well...it wasn't exactly planned. Luna kind of dragged us down here before I could change. Sorry about that..."

"And why this hour? Could you not wait?"

Luna glared at Severus when Harry flinched and shrank into her side. He still couldn't take a harsh tone. Cedric surmised it might never go away. Severus and Harry may have had progress but obviously not much if he was still so skittish.

"He had a dream. He needs your help with something in it that he doesn't understand." She replied, a hard tone to her voice.

None of them took any chances anymore. If Harry felt even the slightest bit threatened, they jumped to his defense. Said Dementor Child tugged on Luna's sleeve and she handed him a pill from her side satchel. He quickly dry swallowed it and then lay his head down on her shoulder for comfort.
Shifting uncomfortably, Severus nodded, eyeing Harry with what appeared to be something akin to understanding. Moments later, the tea arrived and Harry took a sip of his before looking at Severus cautiously.

"I had a dream, maybe a memory, of my time in the Chamber of Secrets in my second year. But I really don't know how to explain it to you, sir. All I can say is, that I promised Tom that I'd find out the truth. You, if you're his Death Eater, know all about him. Not what the Light portrays." He began, looking the older man in the eyes.

Severus stared in shock. Very few knew the Dark Lord's real name. The fact this child knew caused him to lean forward.

"Harry. There is a way for me to see wha you are talking about without you having to go into a lengthy explanation. But it would require your trust." He stated honestly.

Harry turned to Luna for confirmation. She opened her side satchel and gave him a nod of reassurance.

"It will be ok, Harry. If he tries anything I shall know and punish him accordingly. You need your answers and he's right. This is the best way. And while you two are occupied I shall finish my homework for History of Magic that is due after Christmas break." She smiled as she shuffled through the papers in the bag.

Harry bit his lip, then turned back to Severus, giving him a shy smile and tiny nod of acceptance. Setting his tea aside, Severus stood and held a hand out towards Harry, his eyes never leaving said child even as he directed his nest statement at Luna.

"Will you be alright if I leave you here alone? It is best he lay down as we connect minds."

Luna gave him a droll stare that made Severus' lips twitch in humor.

"Didn't I just say that I would be busy doing school work, Professor Snape?"

Harry chuckled and blushed when Severus arched a brow at him, but the man sighed and motioned for Harry to follow him. With one last glance at Luna's serene face, Harry followed his teacher into a side room with a full sized bed, one small dresser, and bare white walls.

"Draco will stay here at times when he visits me during the summer break. He'll often receive extra potions lessons." Severus explained when Harry gave him a questioning look.

Harry made a noise in the back of his throat indicating that he understood and then sat on the bed when directed. He gazed at Severus with expectant green eyes, and suddenly wished Atro or his Cedric, even his Blaise-wolf, were at his side right them. He wanted them to distract him. To comfort him.
Severus conjured a wooden chair and set it in front of Harry, making himself comfortable for the task ahead. He pushed the boy so that he lay back comfortably on the bed and reflexively smoothed down the Dementor child's shirt, a habit he had picked up while the child had resided in these very rooms weeks before.

"Why was the portrait different, sir? Last time I was here it was a vampire wasn't it?"

Severus chuckled and nodded.

"Yes it was. Now, you mustn't break eye contact and you need to relax. I promise if you do there will be less chance for discomfort. And if I see more than you wish me to, I apologize."

Harry nodded and they locked eyes. It felt as if his inner mind was bending inward, forming like elastic around some outward intrusion but with the cool swiftness of a winter breeze, the Potions Master slipped through his defenses, effortlessly entering Harry's mindscape like he were a visitor to some strange museum of thoughts. Severus strolled respectively through the many corridors of Harry's mind, stopping curiously when he came across a bright string of memory. Nearing it, he felt Harry's mind tugging on him slightly, like a string attached to the center of his consciousness.
Obviously, not something he wanted seen.
Respecting the child's privacy, something he wouldn't have done in previous years, he moved on.

Suddenly, a stream of pulsing white memory slithered in front of him like a serpent and he reached for it. Immediately he was thrust into the memory and he grinned in triumph as he observed the goings on around him. That grin slipped away when he viewed the memory in its entirety. He pondered what he heard as Tom Riddle and Harry conversed. He puzzled over their shared emotions. Over the way they shared so much of their history together. Over the boy's second year and the stirrings of changes in his body thanks to his Dementor heritage shining through.
There was a gentle pulse of thought from the memory-Harry, revealing with shocking clarity the crush the child had been harboring over him of all people. He didn't know whether that was a good thing or not. Pulling away from Harry's mind he noted the bright blush on Harry's cheeks and smirked, knowing he was the cause of it.

"Do you feel alright Harry?"

The teen shivered and nodded quickly before sitting up and drawing his knees to his chest.

"So may I have my information now? He always seemed so nice when we talked. Is Tom really a bad person?" Harry's eyes were distant now, remembering the past and Severus briefly saw flashes if the past times Harry talked with Tom via the diary, pass before the boy's eyes.

Regret. Fear. Loss.

Sighing, Severus sat back in the chair and folded his arms across his chest. Well. He came for the truth. He'd get it.

"The Dark Lord isn't a kind man, but he is fair. There are no lies or deceit with him. You do as he says or he kills you. It's that simple. He seemed to be rather interested with you. Do you really not want to kill him?"

Harry sighed.

"I want to live my life with my true friends, if the Dark Lord and I can move past whatever Dumbledore threw us in, then no, I don't want to kill him.

Severus blinked in shock and then glared at the wall.

"Dumbledore is really good at that isn't he? Messing up people's lives."

Harry snorted, appearing tired suddenly. He was fed up with allowing his life to be manipulated so thoroughly. Severus sighed and once more pressed Harry to the bed. He brought up the sheets to rest around the fledgling soul eater's body and green eyes gazed at him in confusion.

"You and Miss Lovegood may rest here tonight. Don't think this excuses you from classes though. And if you have any more questions about Lord Voldemort, I'll do my best to answer."

Harry sighed and hummed his agreement, eyes drifting closed.

"Severus. Why did you join Dumbledore?"

Severus paused at the door, a grimace of pain on his face.

"I thought he would save your mother. She was a very close friend. I loved her dearly. Like a blood sister."

Astonished, the young Dementor gaped at his Potions Master. He was so surprised he never noticed the brief look of softness that appeared in the dour man's eyes.

"Goodnight young Harry." He stated tenderly.

Harry blushed and closed his mouth with a swift nod.

"Goodnight, sir."

"Oh and Harry? Having a crush on someone, even multiple someone's, doesn't make you a freak. I, for one, feel flattered that someone as kind as you considers me worthy of a crush. And if you tell anyone I said that I'll deny it to the end and claim you need help at St. Mungos." Severus teased, with a straight face.

Green eyes met onyx and they shared a moment of silence, before Harry blushed and looked away. He fiddled with the blankets covering him and then huffed and curled up.

"I won't tell anyone, sir." He replied at last.

Severus nodded and then opened the door to leave the room. He was stopped by Harry's soft voice.

"For the record, sir? I think you're quite handsome."

Severus Snape would deny to his dying day that the statement made him blush like a school boy.

End of chapter 8