Harry awoke with a start. He had just been having the most wonderful dream that featured himself and Draco Malfoy under a waterfall. Harry was a lost captain and Draco was a Mermaid. But now the dream was over and he was looking into the face of a complete stranger who'd been hovering over his bed. Quickly he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the intruder. "Who are you and why the hell are you watching me sleep?"

The man backed into a ray of moonlight that had been cast through the open window and Harry saw that the creepo pedophile was actually a teenager like himself, probably not a day over 16 by the looks of it. Slowly Harry got up, his wand still pointed directly at the person's heart. The stranger looked startled and put his hands up to mean no harm. For a moment their eyes locked and Harry saw something so familiar that had haunted him for the first eleven years of his life. The man gazed back at him and the staring contest ended when Ron gave a loud snore from the bed next door. "Who are you?" Harry repeated. The person did not answer; instead he stared at Harry curiously with a small smile on his face. Harry started to get frustrated, "Look if you're not going to tell me who you are or why you're here you may as well leave." The stranger looked hurt and lowered his head. Harry noticed for the first time this newcomer was rather attractive, especially when giving a pouty face. He was ashamed to admit but dare he say this stranger's face could rival Draco Malfoy's. Harry walked towards him, "Okay, sorry for being rude but you have to understand that I'm not used to waking up with people breathing over me, how would you like it if you woke and I was staring at you?" A smile played on the stranger's lips again and moved his eyes to the sleeping people around them. Harry had the feeling this person wouldn't mind that at all. Afraid one of the other boys would wake up Harry led the stranger into the empty common room and motioned for him to sit next to him on a couch by the fireplace. "Okay, now tell me what's going on here."

For the first time the stranger spoke, "My name is Thomas." He held out a hand that Harry shook. Thomas let out a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong? Don't you like shaking hands?"

"No..." the boy stopped a moment, as though he was being careful to choose his words, "I just thought it might hurt…"

"I've got a feeling this is your first handshake, eh?"

"Something like that…"

"Well I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

"I already knew that."

"Most people tend to," both boys smiled.

"Harry- there's something I need to tell you," Harry was surprised by how the boy talked as if they'd known each other forever. There was a long silence and just as Harry thought the boy wouldn't continue he spoke again, "I've actually been watching you for a while now and the truth is that I was the one who slipped the parchment into your pocket with the address on it. I wanted you to come to me, I thought it would be safest meeting that way since I'm not actually attending this school. I disguised myself in Hogwarts robes and attended the Quidditch party. It was so crazy I really didn't have any trouble getting in undetected. From the look on your face I don't think you remember me do you?"

Harry screwed up his brain, it seemed ages ago he'd laid on the bed smoking, and even longer the party. Thomas continued, "I didn't really expect you to remember to tell you the truth-you were gulping down Butterbeers so quick. But see, I came to the party to talk to you. I really wanted to meet you. Infact, I really wanted to murder you," Thomas stopped and glanced at Harry who looked shocked but not too disturbed yet so he kept talking. "But when we started talking I couldn't believe it, I thought you were the boy of my dreams! And I just couldn't help but fall for you. And ever since then I've wanted you Harry." The boy stopped. He had defiantly said too much, he just knew it.

Harry spoke slowly, "Why did you want to murder me?"

"Well I was very angry. You see I grew up in an orphanage my whole life, without parents-sort of like you," he looked up hopefully at Harry, "and I felt you were responsible for all the unhappiness I suffered without a father."

Harry was dumbstruck, "What do I have to do with you not having a father?"

"I'm afraid if I tell you you won't like me."

"Don't worry, just say it."

"I'm Lord Voldemort's son." There, he'd said it, and now Harry could decide whatever he wanted to. He peaked up through his hair and saw a mixture of emotions play across Harry's face. "I don't think you knew this but my dad and your mum were having an affair Harry. I guess she must have had a thing for the dark arts." He looked up again and knew this was the wrong joke to crack by the look of sudden death on Harry's face. "Well anyway apparently they were in love and going around behind your dad's back. But your dad, he found out mum was pregnant and when I was born he wouldn't take none of that. He'd found my dad's hiding place and was rallying a bunch of powerful Aurors together to take my dad out. But my dad got to your house first. You see he was a jealous man and when mum wouldn't take him to be her Only and left us he was so mad and figured he had nothing left so he broke down the door and killed the both of 'em. And you already know about how he tried to get you too but you destroyed him I'm sure. I'm really sorry Harry."

Harry had no idea what to say, he wanted to scream and shout and kill the person in front of him for telling such awful lies. But what if it was true? He had no right to blame Thomas. He was just as much a victim of their parents as he was. Thomas seemed to read his mind because he said, "It's true Harry. I've had to live with it for sixteen years, I'm the result of it. I'm really sorry. I'll go if you want." Thomas got up and started to gather his bearing when he felt Harry tug his sleeve and pull him back onto the couch. His eyes were wide.

"So that's why you were afraid to shake hands? You were afraid it would burn like it does when I touch Voldemort?"

"Yes," Thomas looked so ashamed of being alive Harry wanted to cry for him. He knew what it felt like being the boy no one wanted.

Then they embraced each other as brothers.