Draco had stared after the two now surprisingly dark wizards. It was no surprise to feel his lords magic as dark but to feel Harry's so dark it was incredible. It was even more dark than it had been on the train. He pondered if it was so dark because of Potters creature inheritance or because of his new allegiance in the war.

As he shrugged he left the now empty room. His curiously was bugging him to go and investigate what was going on with Potter. But his fear of his lord won out and he decided to make his way down towards the library to meet Blaise for their free period study group. He had decided to forgo Care of Magical creatures this year along with Theo. The library was quiet as he entered. In the back corner where he usually sat with Blaise and Theo sat two 2nd year Gryffindors. Instead of asking them to move he decided to pass on causing a fight and chose to sit at another table.

The sound of a chair scraping against the ground caught his attention and he looked up to see Pansy and Daphne instead of Theo and Blaise. He arched an eyebrow at them and waited for them to speak.

"Draco dear, we were thinking." Pansy started.

"That sounds dangerous Pansy. What about?" He smirked.

"If Harry really is dark, maybe we could win some brownie points by bringing him to our lord. It seems like if he's really on our side then we should test it."

"You don't think he's really dark?" Draco asked with interest.

"Not really. I think it's probably just he's trying to stay on our good side this year. Because of all of the bad publicity. I think he's faking." She said with an arrogant flip of her hair.

"Potter isn't that smart. However, I agree with Pansy, I don't trust him. We thought about the next time there is a meeting we could take Potter."

"How are you going to do that?" He asked incredulously.

"We have Crabbe and Goyle. And a few of the older students. We could grab him and stun him."

"He knows how to fight Pansy. Maybe give it a while and plan something less dangerous. If he is on our lords side and we attack him it could end up badly for us."

Pansy gave him a skeptical smile before standing and stalking away. Draco looked over to Daphne. The blonde girl frowned slightly.

"She's going to end up hurting him."

"How do you know that Greengrass?" Draco asked sharply.

"She doesn't like him. I think she knows that if the Dark Lord takes Potter on his side she won't be able to be at the top of the dark order with you. You won't be the top if Potter is on the dark side. He will be the Dark Lords right hand instead of you."

Draco recoiled as if he had been struck. That thought had definitely not come across his mind yet. He would have to mention it to his father. He glanced back at Daphne and adjusted his tie. With a curt nod he stood and made his way from the library. He had a letter to send.

Tom felt his wand warming to alert him to the twenty minute warning before dinner. He looked down at Harry who had somehow managed to fall asleep. The boy was tired. Tom couldn't help but feel at a loss of what to do with him. He hadn't ever had to deal with emotions the way Harry did. The fact the boy chose to deal with them also was a new one on him. He gently carded his fingers through Harry's hair. The no longer untamable mop of hair was soft as it curled around his elegant fingers. Beneath his hand the younger stirred. Green eyes snapped open to gaze back at crimson.

A soft smile appeared on Harry's face before he pushed himself up with a yawn. He turned his head and looked back at the man he had fallen asleep on and smiled sheepishly. He stood and stretched with a groan as his back popped loudly. Tom grimaced at the noise and shook his head.

"That is not healthy for your joints and bones." He chided.

"Feels good though. Don't care." Harry smiled.

"And what happens when you're as old as I am and cannot walk?" Tom asked with a laugh.

"We have spells for that. And I have you. You'll come up with something. You're bloody brilliant." Harry smiled at him again.

With a roll of his eyes Tom stood and stretched himself without the popping noises that came from Harry's version of stretching. The pair stood quietly for a moment before Tom carefully reached out and tugged Harry towards his chest.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked softly.

"Yeah. I'm alright. I just wasn't expecting…you know."

"It will be alright. If anyone asks we could say it's your creature inheritance. Your creature is part serpent remember?"

"Won't that give away what I am?"

"Not necessarily. Not unless the right people know about it. You could easily counter that the basilisk is from when you fought the one in the chamber. If they ask about the lion, just pull out the Gryffindor card."

"You're brilliant. You know that right?" Harry whispered softly against him.

"I have been known to have bright ideas every so often little lion. Come, we need to go to dinner before I'm bombarded and searched for having stolen the boy-who-lived." Tom laughed.

Down in the great hall, dinner was just about to start. Tom has managed to get himself slid elegantly into his seat at the head table after entering through the teachers door. Harry however, had all eyes on him the second he walked into the Great Hall. The noise level dropped an entire octave as the boy quickly slunk into his seat and groaned into his hand. Hermione elbowed him gently and gave a pointed glare at those around them.

The stares slowly subsided as the food began to appear. A few glances were sent his way and Harry picked at his food more than eating it. Seeming to have noticed and deciding to take pity on him, Tom subtly waved his hand and cast a notice me not charm on Harry. After the stares stopped Harry was able to eat in relative peace, except for Hermione's questions.

"What happened?"

"Where were you mate?" Ron asked him.

"My Patronus changed. I passed out. Professor Brutus took me to his room to calm down."

That got stares from both Ron and Ginny while Hermione merely arched an eyebrow at him.

"Are you alright? I've never heard of patronuses changing. Or becoming Patroni."

"He said it's because of my you-know-what."

"That would explain it. I think the patroni part is also due to him. Isn't Snapes a doe?"

Harry tensed slightly before answering. "Yes."

The tense conversation seemed to drop off. After he finished his dinner, Harry made his way back towards Gryffindor tower and went about his nightly routine. As he stood in front of the mirror he looked into the eyes reflected back at him. The glowing green sparked slightly before settling back down. He carefully examined his teeth, it made him happy his newfound fangs could be lengthened at his own choice but he chose to keep them just a little longer than normal for the fun of it. With a last look at the man before him he shrugged and walked into the dorm room.

Ron and Seamus sat up on their beds while Dean and Neville where obviously still down in the common room. Ron watched him and looked over at Seamus

"What?" Harry snapped slightly.

"Nothing mate. Just worried about you."

"Yeah Harry you seem a little off."

"I'm fine. I'm going to bed."

With that Harry climbed into his own bed and slammed the curtains around him and warded them closed. He missed the look of calculating anger on Rons face and the jealous look Seamus shot him.