"Professor Snape told me to give you this." Harry looked up from his homework. A small boy handed him a piece of parchment.
"Thanks." He said, before opening it. His eyes widened. No detention? It didn't take him to long to realise what had happened. His eyes turned towards Tom, who was sitting near the fireplace, reading a book.
Harry got up and walked over to the couch. "What the hell have you done?" He asked, waving the small piece of parchment around.
Tom looked up, raising an eyebrow. "How many times have I told you to watch your language?" The Slytherin asked. "And you will have to be more specific."
More specific? Did he even want to know what else Tom had done? Probably not. "I was talking about this." He gave the piece of Parchment to Tom. "Have you threatened him or something?"
Tom didn't even look at the piece of parchment, but just gave him it back to him, before continue reading his book. "I thought you would be pleased. After all, you were right, I deserved that punch, and you did not deserve that detention."
Harry blinked a couple of times. He was right? That was not something Tom would say. Something was going on. He looked suspicious at his companion. "What are you up to this time?"
"Nothing." The Slytherin Heir responded. "You ignored me most of the day, I was getting tired of it. Not every action has an alternative motive."
"With you it does." Harry muttered. Harry could hardly believe Tom did this just because he was ignoring the Slytherin. There was always something behind it, and he had a whole vacation to figure it out. After all, they would be going home for Christmas-break the very next day. Perhaps it was time to play the perfect little Slytherin, Tom might be a little bit less secretive if he thought Harry was completely on his side. "Anyway." He said. "Thank you, it gives me to opportunity to gather my stuff and finish my homework."
Now it was Tom's turn to eye him suspiciously. "My pleasure." The Slytherin said. Before Harry could go back to his homework, Tom grabbed his wrist. "You do realise you are the only one making homework, you have an entire holiday to do that."
Harry looked at Tom's dark blue eyes. A smile appeared on his face. "Of course, I do. But there are other things I need to do over the holidays. A certain someone made me a promise to teach me a few things." He winked, before he freed himself from the other's grip.
Friday forenoon Tom and Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express. Tom instantly realised his companion was looking for an empty compartment, but he had other plans. In order to keep his position, he had to show his fellow Slytherins his superiority, that meant sharing a compartment with them.
He grabbed Harry's wrist, dragging him through the crowd of students to a compartment somewhere in the middle of the train. He looked at the occupants. "Move." He ordered, pointing at Crabbe and Goyle. "Go wait outside."
The two baboons got up immediately, making room for him and Harry to sit down. Blaise nodded politely at the both of them.
"Hello Tom." Pansy said, winking at him. "Where will you be staying? Perhaps I can drop by."
Tom shivered. As if he was going to let the girl come anywhere near him ever again. Before he however could say anything, Harry leaned forward, looking the girl straight in the eye. "He will be staying with me in London." The boy said, his voice ice cold. "I would appreciate it if you left us alone."
The girl did not look impressed, she simply crossed her arms in defiance. "You cannot tell me what to do Potter. Tom and I have something special."
Tom eyed his companion with interest, while the boy shifted his position, to sit next to Parkinson. Harry watched the girl with a look in his eyes, that matched Tom's mood almost perfectly: Murderous. "True enough." The boy continued, placing an arm tightly around Pansy's shoulder. "That is why I am asking you nicely...for this once."
This was not something Harry would normally do. It was almost like the boy was trying to impress him. Tom would have believed it, if it were someone else, but the new Slytherin loathed him. The idea alone was ridiculous. His Golden boy had an ulterior motive, that much was clear.
For a few seconds the compartment was quiet, while Pansy stared at Harry. Then she snorted. "Yeah right Potter. You might have a snake on your chest now, but you are still Dumbledore's light side Gryffindor puppet."
The boy shrugged. "I have never been a true Gryffindor, but that is not the issue here." For a moment Tom wondered how much effort it took Harry to talk like that, the boy almost sounded civilised. "The problem lies with you. You are causing Tom -whom you should call My Lord- discomfort, hence you are causing me discomfort." Harry pulled her even closer, whispering into her ear, but Tom could still hear it. "Unlike you, I have a special connection to Tom. I can feel what he feels, I can hear his thoughts, we are connected through our souls, in a way an ordinary tramp like you, could never understand. I advise you one last time to stay away from him, and from me, otherwise you will see first-hand how much of a true Slytherin I am."
Tom watched the girl. Her face grew paler. For a moment it seemed like she was going to protest, say something again, but then she got up, away from Harry and his tight embrace. Her eyes landed on him. He simply smiled, not really assenting to Harry's words, neither casting them aside as lies. She left the compartment, without looking back.
"I must say Harry." He said, fixing his gaze on his companion. "That was mildly impressive. My guidance has helped you a lot, perhaps there is hope for you yet."
"Don't flatter yourself, Tom." Harry said, reclaiming his seat on his right side. "Your disgust and fear for her touch were simply making me nauseated."
He smirked. Harry was already turning into a real Slytherin. Soon no one could take the boy away from him. "Are you sure that is all it was?" He purred. "I could swear I felt some jealousy." He grabbed Harry's chin, forcing the boy to look into his eyes, ignoring the other two occupants in their coupé.
Harry cheeks turned slightly red. "Don't touch me." The boy hissed, pushing his hand away. The Gryffindor was back again. Tom had hoped Harry would keep up his role as Slytherin, challenging him, but that was perhaps asking too much in such a short time He had made great progress already. Harry was no longer the mindless child, doing things without thinking about it. The boy had learned some manners and verbal defences, with time Harry could rival him.
He smirked, before turning towards Blaise and the Malfoy Heir. The first one was slightly red in the face as well, a jealous look in his dark eyes. Tom had expected no less, after all he was well aware of Blaise his feelings towards Harry. When he fixed his gaze one the blonde, Draco looked away, out of the window. Malfoy had his own thoughts about their little interaction, not that he cared what the blonde thought.
"I require your presence in London during the holidays, Draco." Tom said, looking at the Slytherin opposite of him. Draco looked at him, ready to protest. He raised his hand, to stop the blonde, before he could usher one word. "I promise it will be worth your time. But please do not tell your father about me. It will make things more complicated, for you and for me."
"I believe I understand." The Malfoy heir said. "Notify me when my presence is required."
Perhaps the youngest Malfoy was not that spoiled as he had thought. Whenever he asked something similar of Abraxas, the blonde yelled at him and told him his father would hear about it. Or the elder bluntly refused. Draco was subtler, he knew when he could get something worthwhile out of a situation. Abraxas might have been intelligent and extremely dangerous, but thinking was not something the older Malfoy had done a lot. Perhaps it was something that Draco had inherited from his mother.
"I will."
Tom was rather pleased with how well his plans progressed. Not only had he managed to steal the throne of Slytherin before Christmas break, he also ensured Harry was cut off from his friends and the old meddling fool. He had two full weeks to convince the boy even more. If the mutt stayed out of his way of course. He was hoping Sirius would spend a lot of time with his long-lost little brother, but that was not guaranteed.
The rest of the morning passed in relative peace. While Tom read his book, Draco and Blaise conversed about the upcoming two weeks, and Harry stared through the window, lost in his own thoughts.
Shortly after midday Pansy returned, with a friend of hers. She ignored him and Harry completely, Tom couldn't care less. She would eventually speak to him again, attracted by his charm and power. He would enjoy his time without her never-ending comments about their non-existent connection.
It was long dark when the train stopped in London. Soon they stood alone before the gateway between platform 9 and 10. Tom looked around, but no muggle was in sight. He grabbed Harry's wrist and apparated out of King's Cross Station. Ending up at Grimmauldplace.
Tom looked at the house between number 11 and 13. They had spent the summer here, and now they would spend Christmas here. Harry had taken him inside before, which was the only reason he could see and enter the house now. He was grateful for that, asking Dumbledore for permission would have been troublesome.
Harry stepped through the door first, he followed promptly, closing the door behind him. Tom barely had to time to take of his coat, when he was thrown backwards.
"You filthy little snake!" Someone yelled. "You stay away from my godson, is that clear?"
The mutt. He could have expected this, after all Sirius Black was a true Gryffindor and protecting his godson, the son of his best friend, was al the man could do for now. He understood why Sirius was so protective of Harry, the boy was the closest thing to a son the mutt would probably ever have. Killing Sirius Black was not an option, his companion would hate him for that, causing his plans to take a huge step backwards or fail all together.
Tom had tried to alienate Harry from the Black Heir, but that had failed as well. The mutt excepted that his godson was in league with the younger version of a mass-murdering psychopath, the man was understanding, something Tom hadn't anticipated. The only thing he could do -for now- was play along.
He got back on his two feet, with a little help of Harry. Then he brushed of his clothes, ignoring the eldest Black until he was finished. "Might I enquire what I have done to offend you? Merely stepping inside your house -or should I say Dumbledore his headquarters- is no reason to attack a guest. Especially not when your godson is present."
"You may, but I think you know damn well what this is about." Black yelled back, still aiming his wand at Tom's chest.
"Enlighten me."
"You are turning my godson in one of your minions!" A curse barely missed him, but only because Harry stepped in and pulled him away from the ray of light.
"Sirius!" Harry said with a stern tone of voice. "Tom hasn't done anything! It was my choice to be resorted. I ended up in the house I was supposed to be in."
Black still aimed at him, but with Harry in front of him, it was hard to hit the right target, without hitting Harry. "I refuse to believe that, Harry! You are the son of James and Lily, Slytherin is not in your blood!"
Tom rolled his eyes, this was getting boring. People should just accept Harry's change of heart, instead of taking it out on him, even if it was his doing that the boy transferred in the first place. "May I remind you that you descent from a long line of Slytherins and ended up in Gryffindor?"
"That's different." The mutt answered, finally lowering his wand, but only because Harry held the man's wrist in a tight grip.
"How is it different?" Tom asked.
"I chose to be a Gryffindor, you forced Harry." Black answered.
"Even I cannot persuade the sorting hat to lie about such things."
"Enough! Both of you." Harry yelled. The boy looked annoyed, but only a small portion of feelings reached Tom, Harry was blocking it somehow. "Sirius." The ex-Gryffindor continued. "It was my own choice to be resorted. If I save a person's life, I gladly offer up something as addled as my place among the lions."
The mutt stared at his godson a little while longer, before those grey eyes fixated back on Tom. "If something happens to him, I will hold you personally responsible. And I will make you pay, is that clear?"
"Crystal." Tom answered. Not that he really cared. There was nothing the eldest Black could do to him. And no one was going to hurt Harry in any way, unless they wanted to be hurt ten times as bad.
"This is going to be the worst holiday ever." Harry muttered, before passing the both of them and disappearing upstairs. He would be a good little Slytherin for Harry's sake. Perhaps he could even win the trust of the mutt if he behaved nicely, although it was going to be hard, he really didn't like Sirius.
A couple of days later Harry and Tom were seated in the Black library. It was actually pleasant to be in there with just Tom. It was more relaxing then with Ron or Hermione. The first would be bored out of his mind and bother Harry every five seconds. Hermione would be stressed over homework, or magic, she did not immediately understand. Tom was not like that. The Slytherin Heir was just sitting in his chair, completely at ease.
Harry looked up from his own book – The dark arts and their counter curses- to watch Tom. The Slytherin browsed through the book, stopping at a specific page, getting lost in the words immediately. It was fascinating to see how Tom absorbed all this new information so easily, twisting it in his mind, to use it for his own ends.
"Why are you staring at me?" Tom asked out of the blue, his eyes still fixed on the page.
"I wasn't..." Harry shook his head. "I was thinking, that's all."
The Slytherin Heir looked up, a smirk on his face. "Oh really?"
"Yes, really." Harry answered, turning a page in his book.
"You were not admiring my handsome face, and the intelligence in my beautiful dark eyes?" Tom asked, closing his own book and getting up. "You were staring quite intently."
Harry could hear soft footsteps on the wooden floor. A moment later two hands were placed on opposite side of the chair he was occupying. When he looked up, Tom's face was only inches away from his own. Why did the Slytherin always have to come this close? It made him feel trapped and uneasy.
Harry swallowed, before he relaxed completely. Tom was never going to leave him alone if he showed signs of weakness. He just had to play this twisted game, then Tom would get bored and leave him alone. Because that was what all of this was, some game, just to amuse the Slytherin Heir.
"Of course, I was admiring you Tom." He answered, feeling a bit sick, but he didn't show it. "How can I not? You are almost perfect."
"Almost?" Tom purred.
"Yes, almost." Harry said, looking back at his book, feigning non-interest. "Your eyes are a bit to grey, perfect dark blue would have been so much better. And you have got a small birth mark in your neck. And you have got a small scar underneath your eye, did you know that?"
Harry was just saying things he had notices along the way. They were not really imperfections, but Tom would see it that way. "And that is only your appearance, please do not get me started on your character."
For a moment silence reigned. Then Tom laughed softly. "You are just messing with me, are you not?" The Slytherin asked, finally stepping away from Harry's chair.
"Actually, I am not." Harry answered, not looking up from his book, even though he had no idea what was on the page. "You have a terrible attitude, and you love playing mind games. Let's not forget that all your plans are actually diabolically evil. Let me correct that, you are diabolically evil, just like your counterpart, he actually looks the part as well, you are to cowardly to show your real self."
The book was pulled from his hands. When he looked up, he saw that there was no longer a smirk on Tom's face. Perhaps he went too far, judging by the ice-cold look in those dark blue eyes. Tom leaned over his chair again. "Never compare me to that monster. Is that clear?"
"Why not? You will eventually become him." Harry started this, he was not going to back down now. A shiver ran down his spine, when a pair of cold fingers brushed his neck.
"I will never become like him." The Slytherin whispered, malice in his voice. "It would be wise never to mention it again."
The grip on his neck became stronger, Harry could barely breath. "Tom..." He hissed. "Let...go..." He grabbed the other's wrist, in order to free himself. This innocent game turned into something much more dangerous. He knew angering Tom was not such a good idea, but he never expected the man to be so sensitive about his older counterpart.
"I have warned you so many times." Tom whispered, his grip didn't lose strength. "Do not offend me."
"I thought you loved it when I challenged you?" Harry asked, it took him a lot of effort. Tom looked angry enough to kill him. But would the Slytherin actually do it? He still had the feeling Tom needed him for something, besides the hunt for the other horcruxes. He reached for his wand. His fingers brushed past it.
"There is a difference between challenging me, and this." Tom grabbed his wrist, preventing him from grabbing his wand. "Do you have a dead wish, Harry?"
"No." Harry didn't want to die, not now. He was finally able to change something about his life and, the lives of his friends and family. Dying now was not in his plans.
"Harry? Are you in here?" Hermione entered the library, shortly followed by Ron.
Tom's eyes left his face, to look slightly back at the two intruders. They couldn't have come at a worse time. Harry looked at them. It was a strange position to get caught in, and it could be easily misinterpreted. Tom was leaning over him, one knee on the chair, next to his legs. Their faces inches apart. Tom's hand around his throat was invisible for everyone that entered the library.
It didn't help that Tom was only wearing a pair of dark jeans and a shirt with the top buttons unbuttoned. His clothes were in no better condition. Due to Tom's knee, his dark green shirt was slightly lifted, showing a small piece of skin.
By the look one Hermione's face she made the wrong conclusion. Her complexion paled quite a bit. "Ahum..." She looked uncomfortable to say the least. "We didn't want to disturb you."
"Then why are you still here?" Tom hissed, the murderous intent was still lingering in his dark eyes.
"Because..." She looked from Harry to Tom and back again. "We wanted to talk to Harry."
"I thought Harry had been rather clear at breakfast, he does not want to talk to either of you." The Slytherin finally let go of his throat. The cold fingers brushed past Harry's shoulders, when Tom got up and stepped away from the chair.
"I know." Hermione continued. "But we are staying here for the remainder of Christmas-break, we might as well get along. And... something happened."
Harry rubbed his throat, before looking at his old friend again, with pain in his heart. "What happened?" He asked. If they were going to stay for the next two weeks, it was going to be one hell of a Christmas-break. It was hard enough with just the Black brothers and Tom. Regulus always tried to hide himself from Tom, while his older brother sought and excuse to fire a curse at Tom, and Tom's hatred for Sirius was even greater. They had been fighting on daily bases, both verbally and physically. It was driving Harry insane and it had only been a few days!
But Harry also noticed Tom was doing his utmost best to be civilised against Sirius. It would work, if Sirius wasn't hell bound on destroying Tom completely. Perhaps he should have a chat with his godfather about this. It would make his life a whole lot easier if the both of them just got along.
"Well." Hermione looked at Harry, before gesturing at Ron. It was only then that he noticed how bad the red-head looked. His eyes were red and puffy, his face pale and his whole body was trembling. "Mister Weasley was attacked by a giant snake, they don't know if he will survive. And even if he does...he will stand trial for breaking and entering. Apparently, he was doing a job for the order at the department of mystifications. The wrong people found him."
"I'm sorry." Was all Harry could say. There was nothing he could do about it. He felt horrible, because he hadn't been there for Ron. "When did this happen?"
"The night before Christmas-break. They only found mister Weasley a couple of hours later." She said, looking at Tom from the corner of her eyes.
Harry looked at the Slytherin as well. Tom was reading his book again, but his whole postures told Harry that the Slytherin Heir was still angry. The images of Tom's past floated before Harry's eyes. He was not going to end like Abraxas. Perhaps an apology was in order, when the two Gryffindors were gone of course.
"I'm really sorry." Harry said again, now looking at Ron. "If there is anything I can do, please tell me."
For the first time the red-head looked up. "You could show some bloody emotions!" Ron yelled. "You're just sitting there, having fun with your new boyfriend, while my father is in the hospital. He could die!"
It took every ounce of his will, not to yell back. "He is not my boyfriend." Was the first thing he said, as calm as possible. "What do you expect of me? Should I cry? I won't. He is not my father, I lost him when I was still a baby, if you recall. None of this is my fault, so please go and be angry at someone else, because frankly I'm sick and tired of it."
"You don't know what my family, everyone here, has sacrificed for you!" Ron yelled again. "And how do you repay us? By shagging the enemy!"
Harry looked at his former best friend for a few seconds, before he started to laugh. It wasn't really kind, and he knew Ron was in an emotional turmoil, but it was to ironical. "What you have sacrificed? What about me? My family is dead, I have spent years with relatives, who hate me. I have risked my own life every single year, to protect you, and everyone else from Voldemort-"
"Don't say his name." The red-head whispered.
"- And what do I get in return? Everyone hates me, they think I'm crazy. Even the both of you." Harry got up to his feet. "You two are no better than anyone else. And what I do in my free time, is my business."
After those words, he left the library. They would think all sort of wrong things about him now, he realised that. But telling them his new-found best friend tried to suffocate him, was not a better alternative. They would use it as an argument against Tom. If Sirius found out, he would be furious.
His fingers brushed over his throat. He could feel the pressure of Tom's cold fingers on his skin. He stopped halfway the stairs, leaning against the wall, closing his eyes.
"Are you all right?" Someone asked.
Harry opened his eyes. Regulus was standing a couple of steps lower. His eyes looked worried. "Yeah, fine."
"You had a fight with your friends." It was no question, it was a statement.
"Yeah...But I don't think they're my friend any more. I pushed them away." Somehow he felt comfortable talking to the youngest Black, even if it was a rather painful topic.
"I know the feeling. I thought I had driven Sirius away from me as well, but it turned out he still loved me enough to risk your and his life to save me." Regulus said. "Do not give up hope. I am sure they still care for you, and one day they will understand."
"Thanks." Harry replied.
"You are welcome." The youngest Black stepped past him.
"Regulus?"
"Hmm?"
"Why did you join Voldemort?"
Regulus looked back, a sad look in his grey eyes. "Because I thought he would protect my family." And with those words the youngest Black was gone.
Wasn't that the exact same reason why he was working with Tom? To protect his family and friends? Was it wise to trust the future Dark Lord? He could easily be betrayed. He fingers brushed the finger-marks in his neck once more. He was playing a very dangerous game, he realised that. But giving up was not in his dictionary. Whatever happened, he had to finish this. Even if it would lead to his own dead.
