The Devil in Me

In the Shadow of All the Guilt

The chapter title comes from the song:

I'll Follow You by Shinedown (Which is a Tom x Lily song if ever I heard one. I love it and think it matches them perfectly!)

~ WARNINGS ~

Explicit, rough M/F sex scene (between Tom & Lily so skip if you're not into the pairing)

A few days after the battle, Harry was trying to distract himself with a book in his dorm room when his arm burned. He sighed and ran his hand over the hot skin as he wondered what Tom wanted with him now. All the same, he pushed himself to his feet and left via the Slytherin common room.

"You too?" Blaise asked as he and Draco fell into step with Harry.

Harry nodded.

"Well, that's reassuring," Draco remarked, "If he's calling all of us, it must just be a meeting."

Harry could have scoffed, but he didn't.

"Of course it's a meeting," He said instead, "Don't you think the others ought to be briefed on what happened the other night?"

It was a fair point, so Draco and Blaise fell silent.

Harry almost wished that they hadn't; he wished they were still talking about mediocre shit because that would have been enough to distract him from the realisation that he would have to face Theo's father tonight.

All the same, he tried not to think about it while they exited the school together and apparated to Malfoy Manor. They were the last to arrive, and Harry apologised for their late-ness then took his seat by the Dark Lords side. He glanced around, intrigued to notice that Bellatrix was missing.

I thought it best. What with the child due to be born soon.

That makes sense, Harry realised

Tom cleared his throat, "Some of you may be wondering why I called this meeting, and others already know. A few days ago, there was a small skirmish which it seems will hereafter be referred to as the Battle of Longbottom Grove."

Harry looked down at the table, not particularly looking forward to the play-by-play of one of the worst nights of his life.

"It was a victory," Tom said, "But unfortunately, young Theodore lost his life."

There was some murmuring, a couple of apologies, and Harry was pretty sure he heard someone smack Alfred Nott on the back 'supportively'. But he couldn't bring himself to look at Theo's father.

"Alfred will hold his funeral on Saturday," Tom continued, "And I expect all of you to be in attendance. We owe it to Theodore. He gave his life for our cause."

Harry looked up when he heard shuffling coming from further up the table. Alfred Nott had gotten to his feet; he gave a brisk nod and said, "My son has proven himself to be a chip off the old block these past few months, and I've never been more proud of him."

Harry bit back a scoff. Proud? What use is pride? He's fucking dead, you moron.

Tom gave Harry a warning look.

Harry glared back at him; He's fanatical.

If that helps him process his grief, does it matter? Tom thought-asked. He nodded sincerely at Alfred as other Death Eaters clapped him on the back. Muggles pretend there is a god to make them feel better about death and their pointless existence.

Although it was a fair point, Harry wasn't in the mood to admit that, so he kept his mind as clear as possible.

Tom cleared his throat, and silence fell instantly.

"The Army of the Phoenix suffered heavy losses in the battle," Tom said, looking specifically at Harry, "After the coward, Ronald Weasley cursed Theodore in the back, Harry punished him appropriately. What are your feelings on the demise of your youngest brother, William?"

Bill looked up, "Anyone who condones the kidnapping and torture of an innocent 15-year-old girl is no brother of ours."

Tom gave them a satisfied nod and leant back in his chair, "My sources tell me that one of the Aurors that Shacklebolt had fighting with him was burned so badly in the attack that he died shortly afterwards. His name was Sorenson Cauldwell. Did the Cauldwell family not confirm to us that they were staunchly neutral?"

"They did, my lord," Yaxley confirmed.

"I thought so," Tom drawled. He looked Dolohov in the eye, "Take your best men and kill them all."

"All, my lord?" Rodolphus asked.

Tom looked at his follower, "Oh yes, I forget that your sister married a Cauldwell for his American fortune. Do you wish us to spare her?"

"If your mercy will extend to her, then yes, my lord," Rabastan answered.

With a nod, Tom gave Dolohov his full attention once more, "Kill Septimus Cauldwell and his muggle-loving fool of a brother along with his muggle wife. If Lotus Lestrange resists, kill her too but spare the girl."

"The girl, my lord?" Dolohov questioned.

"Rodolphus and Rabastan's niece," Tom said, leaning back in his chair, "She is our only chance to keep the Cauldwell name alive after all, and that American fortune could be useful. If we can persuade young Sadie to join us, she may carry on the Cauldwell name."

There were nods, and Harry felt like his usual clueless self because the name Cauldwell and Sadie meant nothing to him. He whispered this to Draco, who murmured back, "She was in Slytherin until our second year, then her parents pulled her out to home school her after she had some mental breakdown."

Harry nodded and gave the meeting his full attention once more.

Tom continued, "Augusta Longbottom was also killed. Ironically enough, by your sister," he nodded at the Weasley boys, "She is with us, I presume?"

"She isn't on anyone's side, my lord," Bill answered evasively, "She's 16 years old. She can make her own decision when she comes of age."

"Hm," Tom said, an amused smile coming to his lips, "Old enough to kill, yet not to decide where her loyalties lie?"

"With respect, my lord," Harry said, leaning forward in his chair, "Ginny Weasley did not kill Augusta Longbottom, Aideen – the banshee trapped inside of her – did."

"Yes," Tom said, tapping the table absentmindedly as he looked at Fitz.

"Speaking of banshee's, William. Would you fill us in on what you discovered?"

Bill nodded, and everyone gave him their full attention.

"We heard reports of a scream being heard for miles around south Wales," Bill explained, "So we went to Prewett Castle to discover the source of it, and it appears that the castle was, up until recently, the Army of the Phoenix's base."

Bill paused and frowned, "The scream that was heard was that of a banshee. One of the army's leaders, Kingsley Shacklebolt, was killed saving the others from it. The banshee then fed on six Kelpies residing in the lake beneath the castle and fled. My brother and Felix Rosier are currently tracking it."

"And the identity of the banshee, William?"

"She is residing in my mother's body, but my mother is dead. All that remains is the banshee."

"A key example of the fate that all banshees trapped within human hosts will, eventually, suffer," Tom said, turning to look at Fitz, "Speaking of which, how is your former flame, Fitzroy?"

Fitz swallowed, "She is well, my lord, and she would very much like to remain so. I understand that we consider her to be below us because she is a half-breed, but given your permission, I would marry her and carry on the Mulciber line."

There were some snorts of laughter at this, but Tom didn't respond to them.

He kept his gaze on Fitz as he considered this, "The Mulciber line? Your family is merely a sister branch of the Burke family, the remains of their Irish contingent. While the Burkes came back to England and made a name for themselves, the Mulciber family fell into obscurity and alcoholism. I suppose it is only appropriate that you would ask to marry a banshee."

Fitz looked down as some of the other Death Eaters guffawed at his expense.

"Perhaps you should befriend Narcissa's niece, Nymphadora," Tom continued, "I hear she has an affinity for magical creatures too."

"With all due respect, my lord, werewolves and banshees are entirely different. My former fiancé has a magical creature inside her, but she is a witch. While I hear that Narcissa's niece prefers full bestiality," Fitz said, barely managing to contain his temper.

Tom clicked his tongue, "She is a Prewett?"

Fitz nodded, "Yes, and an incredibly powerful witch."

"An incredibly powerful witch who has been inside Castle Jones and who grew up in Wales," Tom said, his eyes glancing around the room, "For that reason, she may prove useful. If Bethel Prewett can provide me with information on the Jones family, specifically on their castle and their wards, then you can do whatever you want with her."

"Understood, my lord," Fitz said, bowing his head.

"What do the Jones family have to do with it?" Harry asked curiously.

Tom looked at his older followers, "Everything, Harry. I have reason to believe that they are rising against us, as they did the last time. Augustus, would you care to give our younger recruits a history lesson?"

Gus nodded and leant forward, eyeing the younger contingent, which included his daughter, "It wasn't just the Order who resisted last time. Some of the more liberal families rose against us, the Welsh and Scottish ones specifically. The Jones' were the figureheads, but they hid in their impenetrable castle while they sent their pawns out to do their bidding."

Harry hung onto his mentors every word.

"Gethin Jones was the head of the family, and he was untouchable," Gus continued, "So we targeted those close to him. His son and heir, Matthias, was married to a Bones girl. To wipe out their support, we went after the entire family, and only two escaped the massacre."

Harry nodded, Amelia and Susan Bones.

"But when we took out the Bones family, we made the McKinnon's angry," Gus added, "Edgar Bones had been married to Morana McKinnon, and both of them and their baby children were killed in the attack. The remainder of the McKinnon family rose against us, and they too were wiped out."

"The Bones babies, though, that was an accident," Dolohov admitted with a frown, "We had no idea there were kids in the castle when we lit it up."

Harry frowned down at his hands, trying not to pass judgement on that one when he wanted to yell, why the fuck didn't you check then?!

"Unfortunately, that was the way the war was at that time," Tom said quietly, "There was a lot of collateral damage."

"Collateral damage?" Harry snapped, looking up, "That's what dead children are. Collateral fucking damage?"

Harry pushed himself up from the table, "Is that what Theo was too? Collateral damage?"

Tom's eyes flashed, and Draco looked at Harry like he was insane.

"Harry!" Draco hissed, "Do you have a death wish?"

"Maybe I do," Harry said, pushing his chair back, "But I'm not going to sit here and listen to you talk about collateral damage. I'm the collateral damage of that last war, I am!"

Tom rose to his feet and pointed his wand at Harry.

Harry knew what was coming, and he didn't even try to fight it. Tom levitated him into the air and cast the cruciatus curse on him while suspending him above the table.

Draco grimaced and looked down, unable to look upon and listen to Harry's suffering.

"I hope you do not think that undermining me is going to distract anyone from the fact that it is your fault that young Theodore is dead," Tom hissed.

"I do not care how much self-loathing you have brewing inside you over that; you will not undermine me and expect not to have to suffer any consequences."

Tom ended the curse and threw Harry back violently. He hit the fireplace, and a crack sounded, but Harry somehow pulled himself to his feet anyway.

"Get out of my sight," Tom ordered coldly.

Harry bit back the "gladly" that wanted to come out of his mouth, and he walked towards the patio door, which swung open when he reached it. He stepped outside and magically blew it shut with such force that the glass shattered.

Tom looked around the table furiously, "Does anyone else have anything to say?"

The occupants were silent, so Tom took his seat once more.

"As I was saying, the Jones family seem to have risen against us once more. This time, they have taken in what remains of the Army of the Phoenix. It is, therefore, imperative now that we convince the neutral families to place their faith in us, not the Jones family."

There were nods and sounds of agreement at this.

"Meeting dismissed," Tom said, tapping the table irritably, "Lilith."

Lily paused; she had been in the process of getting to her feet.

"Stay," Tom ordered.

With a nod, Lily sat back down while the others filtered out of the room. Most of them left via the entrance hall, but Draco slipped out of the patio door and hurried into the woods to look for Harry.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked when the room was clear.

Tom got to his feet and pointed at the patio door, "He was out of line."

"He was," Lily admitted, "But he is also grieving."

Tom scoffed, "And how long will he grieve for? Am I expected to walk around on eggshells around him for fear of hurting his precious feelings?"

His words were dripping with sarcasm which was why Lily raised an eyebrow at him.

"No, Tom, but no amount of tough love is going to make him feel any better and also calling him out on the fact Theo is dead because of him probably hasn't helped matters either," Lily said pointedly.

"You would question me too?" Tom asked furiously, taking a step forward to grab her wrists.

Lily looked from her wrists, which were firmly in his tight grasp, to his face, "Is that supposed to scare me?"

Tom looked her in the eye, "It ought to scare you into obeying me."

Lily scoffed, "If you want someone to obey you, then kill me now because I will always question you when I think you're wrong, and right now, I think you're wrong."

Tom pushed her back against the fireplace; the fury in his eyes was real as he stared into her eyes, "I cannot decide if I would be doing myself a favour or a disservice if I killed you."

"Well," Lily said, her eyes on his lips, "The line between what brings us pain and what sustains us is thinner than you would imagine."

Tom gripped her wrists tighter with an irritated growl and closed the gap between them to kiss her hard. Lily didn't resist, despite the fact they had been arguing. She moved to wrap her arms around Tom's neck, but the Dark Lord did not let her. He still had a tight grip on her wrists, and he pinned them against the wall.

Lily made a noise, somewhere between a moan and a gasp, against his lips.

Tom kissed her harder, nipping at her lip, forcing his tongue against hers and easily winning the battle for control. If Lily wanted to, she could use her little uncontrollable magic trick to get the upper hand, but she didn't.

He broke the kiss to murmur a wandless, "Incarcerous," binding Lily's hands together. Then he held her wrists to the wall with one hand and moved the other down her body.

Lily let out an involuntary moan when he slipped his hand into her trousers and panties, thumbing her wet folds, "Tom!"

"You have been shirking my authority for long enough, Lilith," Tom hissed, his lips against her neck, "I think it is time for you to use my title."

Lily writhed against him, and Tom slipped his index into her, his thumb rubbing her clit hard, to the point that it was as painful as it was pleasurable, "Yes, my lord," Lily cried out, louder than she had meant to.

Tom groaned and pressed his erection against her leg, eliciting another moan from her lips.

"If this were my home, I would turn you around and punish you for your insubordination on that table," Tom said, his voice low and dangerous.

Lily tightened around his fingers, and he chuckled, "Of course you would like that. But alas, as Lucius likes to remind us, it is mahogany."

He slipped his fingers out of Lily and gripped her hips. Before she knew what was happening, he had used black magic to transport them to his quarters. Their feet hit the ground with force as they did after apparition, and Tom pressed Lily into the wall.

They were in his study, and Nagini was lounging by the fire. She barely lifted her head at the commotion, but Tom hissed in her direction, "Nagini, leave us."

The sound Lily made when Tom spoke in parseltongue was as involuntary as it was arousing. It made Tom smirk as he turned her around and bent her over his desk. Vanishing all of her clothes in one fell swoop, Tom hissed, "Like that, do you?"

Lily whimpered, and Tom chuckled lowly. He vanished his clothes as he took the final step to stand behind her, rubbing his cock against her wet pussy.

"Tom," She gasped.

Tom thrust into her without any further warning, and Lily cried out loudly. He grabbed her hair and pulled her back so that she was closer to his face, "What did I say about using my correct title, Lilith?"

"Yes, my lord," Lily gasped, "I'm sorry, my lord."

Tom's cock grew harder inside of her, and he pushed her down so she was flush against the hard, wooden desk. He slammed into her hard, moving quickly, releasing the frustration that had built up over the last few stressful weeks.

He moved his hands from Lily's hips to grab her relatively small breasts and pull her up against him. he held her tightly, her entire body flush against his as she struggled to stay standing.

Tom groaned and thrust into her in a fast rhythmic fashion, reaching down to rub his thumb over her swollen clit and making her arch into him, "Fuck!" she cursed, "Oh, yes, my lord."

Her words sent him tumbling over the edge. He slammed her down against the desk and grabbed her hip, thrusting into her hard.

Lily gasped, gripping the desk as her orgasm built, the familiar feeling of pleasure pooling in her stomach.

With one final rough thrust, Tom growled and bit her shoulder as he came. Lily's walls tightened around him, a whole line of expletives falling from her mouth as she gasped and moaned his name.

The room was silent in the aftermath of the particularly rough sex – they hadn't done anything like that, and for the first time, Tom paused, worried that he had put her off. He murmured a couple of cleaning charms them ran his fingers over the bite mark on her shoulder, whispering a healing charm impossibly softly.

Lily turned around and pushed herself onto the desk. She grabbed Tom's hands and pulled him towards her, lifting her chin to kiss him softly. He hesitated, unsure whether he should kiss her back or not.

She could sense his discomfort, so Lily moved her hands from his. Instead, she settled them around his neck as she deepened the kiss, pulling him close to her. Tom got the hint and allowed himself to relax into her touch and her warmth.

"I'm sorry," Tom murmured against her lips.

"Don't be," Lily returned in a whisper.

"Harry!"

"Oh, would you just fuck off?" Harry yelled, spinning around, then groaning and doubling over in pain.

Draco rushed forward as Harry leant against the trunk of a large tree for support.

"Will you not even let me die in peace?" Harry asked irritably.

"No, because you don't get to come out here and die," Draco growled, pulling Harry to his feet.

Harry grimaced in pain and tried to yank his arm out of Draco's, but he realised a little too late that Draco was about the only thing holding him up.

"You think I'm going to let you come out here and die because you think it's your fault Theo is dead?"

"It is my fault!"

"No, it isn't!" Draco shouted, "It's my fault, okay? I wasn't good enough to kill Ron fucking Weasley! I could barely hold him off in that duel, and because of that, he killed Theo!"

Harry looked up at Draco. The blonde boy had tears rolling down his face, "It's not your fault. I was duelling Weasley when he cast that curse at Theo; it's my fault."

Harry grabbed Draco's hand with a shake of his head and pulled him down to his level. Draco fell rather ungracefully to his knees in front of Harry. Harry sucked in a shaky breath, gripping his chest as he did so, "It's not your fault."

"Yes, it is," Draco said, his voice unsteady.

Stars were beginning to dance across his vision, but Harry reached out and gripped Draco's shoulder, "You did the best you could. You're not a trained fighter, Draco."

"Neither are you," Draco said quietly.

Harry laughed then hissed in pain, "Me? Course I am, school of life, I've been living it since I was a kid."

Draco looked at Harry's chest and sighed, pulling his wand out of his back pocket.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked breathily.

"If you think I'm going to let you die from a broken rib, then you've got another thing coming," Draco replied, "Grit your teeth."

Harry did so, but he still ended up crying out in pain when Draco reset the bone.

"I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure I'm bleeding internally too," Harry said, leaning against the tree as he tried to get to his feet.

Draco lifted his wand and began to cast a diagnostic charm, "What makes you so sure?"

Harry grimaced and rested his forehead against the tree, then he began to cough, and Draco instantly saw the problem – Harry was practically throwing up blood.

"Fuck," Draco cursed as he scrambled in his pocket for something. Harry thought it was a potion of some sort, but he realised that it was a mirror and wondered how a mirror was supposed to be useful.

As Harry's vision began to blur, and nausea reared its head in his stomach. His head began to pound, and the last thing he heard was Draco calling for his mother.

"You almost killed him."

Tom rolled his eyes and sat up in his bed, "And?"

"And don't you think that warrants an apology?" Lily asked, looking at the older man pointedly.

"No, I think he deserved it."

"Would you still be saying that to him if he was dead?"

"I would not be saying anything to him if he was dead because that would be pointless."

Lily smacked her self in the head, "God, Tom! You're impossible," she said as she got to her feet and stepped into the walk-in wardrobe.

"I presume he is fine?"

Lily stepped out of the cupboard, fully dressed, "Oh, so you do care?"

"He has his uses," Tom said evasively.

Lily shook her head in disbelief, "I don't know if he's okay. All I know is that when I went downstairs to get a drink earlier, Lucius was sitting up in the kitchen waiting for Narcissa to floo with an update from the hospital wing at Hogwarts."

"Why did she take him to Hogwarts? He has a perfectly good room here," Tom pointed out.

"Hm, let me think about that," Lily said sarcastically, "Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that the person who almost killed him is here, and maybe Narcissa thought it would be better for him not to be in the same house."

Tom raised an eyebrow, "You seem irrationally angry about this."

"Are you ever going to understand human emotions?" Lily asked him quite calmly.

Tom considered that for a moment, "I have spent the last 70 years not understanding human emotions, and I am quite content to carry on in that way, Lilith."

Lily sighed, "I'm going back to Hogwarts to check on him. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

"I hope you have not neglected to complete your six-page essay about the practical uses of offensive magic," Tom called as she left the room.

"Shut up!" Lily called back in response.

When Harry woke up, he was aware that it was early in the morning by the soft light filtering in. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times while he got his bearings; he was quite relieved to discover that he was in the hospital wing at Hogwarts rather than his room at Malfoy Manor.

He pushed himself up and rubbed his eyes. When he opened them, they fell on the boy by his bed.

"He has been there all night."

Harry looked up at Narcissa, "Has he?"

Narcissa nodded and sat down on the edge of Harry's bed, "I told him that he should go back to the common room and get some sleep, but he said he would not leave his brother."

Harry looked away from Narcissa at Draco, who was fast asleep, his head resting on his shoulder. He sighed and leant back against his pillows, "I'm sorry for my little breakdown last night, but I just…some days. I don't know how to do it, Narcissa."

Narcissa took his hand and put a finger under his chin. She lifted his face gently as a mother would do, and she smiled kindly at him, "You lost Theodore, and I understand how hard that is for you. But you must consider the other people who care for you."

Harry sighed and nodded, "I just feel like I can't win, like the battle keeps changing every time I feel like I'm getting a grip on it."

Narcissa leant forward and kissed him on the cheek, "The Dark Lord promises that it will be over soon. Have faith."

Harry wanted to, but it was getting increasingly hard to have faith in someone so changeable. All the same, he nodded.

Narcissa left, and Harry reached out to shake Draco awake. The blonde boy opened his eyes groggily, and Harry smiled, "Morning, sunshine."

"You don't get to be a sarcastic prick," Draco mumbled, "You were suicidal last night."

"Minor blip, I'm all good now," Harry said, swinging his legs out of bed and grabbing his wand.

"Did Mother say you were allowed to leave?" Draco asked.

"Not in those exact words, but I feel fine," Harry said; he transfigured his hospital pyjamas into his school clothes.

"Harry, you nearly died last night," Draco said in disbelief.

"Meh," Harry shrugged, "I feel as good as new, a great healer, your mum."

Draco rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to argue with Harry further, but before he could say anything, the sound of clicking heels filled the hospital wing. When the rapid clicking came to an end, Lily stepped into his little cubicle.

"Ah," Harry said with a half-hearted smile, "The pocket rocket herself, what have I done to deserve this honour?"

Lily crossed her arms, "You look okay."

"I'm fine," Harry said, "Just a broken rib."

"And a punctured lung," Draco added, "Do you remember throwing up blood? Or suffocating in your blood? Because I do, and it was traumatic."

"Uh-huh, I love you too, Draco," Harry said, pushing himself off of the bed and then realising that his legs were shaky.

Draco reached out and caught him before he could fall.

"Good as new, huh?" Lily asked.

"I'm fine," Harry said with a wave of his hand, "I'm not staying in bed for the whole day."

Lily looked at Draco, "Is it just me, or does he seem high on pain potions?"

"It's not just you," Draco replied dryly.

With a roll of her eyes, Lily pushed Harry back onto his bed, "You nearly died last night. You are spending the day in bed. If it's such an unbearable thought, just keep your boyfriend here and play chess all day."

Harry scoffed, "Boyfriend? Please, he's not my type."

"Exclusively into female blondes, are you?" Lily quipped.

"Exclusively not into a bloke who feels like family to me," Harry said, trying to keep his eyes open, "Not a Black, not into incest."

"I could kill you," Lily reminded him while Draco bit back a smirk.

"Yeah, but you wouldn't. You think I'm cute."

"I think you're a dick, actually," Lily remarked, "But you have your uses, so I'll keep you around."

Harry opened one eye, "Where's your boyfriend?"

Lily raised an eyebrow, "What makes you think I know that?"

"Cause even high on pain potions, I'm perceptive," Harry said, his words beginning to slur, "You smell of Malfoy Manor and snake. Does Nagini sleep on the bed when you're with him?"

Lily frowned, "That's not relevant to this conversation."

"Hm," Harry said sleepily, "She's a blood-cursy thing though, used to be a woman, so if you shag in front of her, she's basically perving on you."

Lily made a face, "What? That's disgusting!"

"That's Tom Riddle for you," Harry said, his words slurring and becoming incoherent, "Trigger happy, annoyingly handsome pain in the dick."

Lily looked at Draco, "Pain in the dick?"

"I've heard him say that before, but what the hell is trigger happy?"

"Muggle thing," Lily replied, "Do we think he's passed out?"

Harry began to snore.

"I'd say so, yeah," Draco said, shooting Lily an amused look, "So, how do you feel about being perved on by a snake lady?"

Lily rolled her eyes, "I think you should go to hell. Oh, and take a toothbrush."

She disappeared behind the screen, and Draco called after her, "Thanks, awfully considerate of you!"

"It's so the devil can shove it up your arsehole!"

Draco tutted and propped open a book, then rested his feet on Harry's bed, "How rude," he murmured to himself.

"Were you ever planning on telling me that your snake is a pervert?"

Tom didn't look up from his paperwork, "Good morning, Lilith."

Lily glared at him and shut the door, "She's a woman!"

"She was a woman," Tom corrected her, "Now she is a snake."

"With a human brain and the memories of a woman," Lily said in disbelief, "And you just let her sleep in-between us? And watch us have sex?"

Tom looked up at Lily in exasperation, "Yes. Why does this upset you so much? She is a snake, Lilith. Do you feel threatened by her? Because rest assured, you have nothing to concern yourself about. Nagini eats her sexual partners when she is done with them; even if I were a snake, I would steer clear."

Lily raised an eyebrow at him, "You're an idiot, you know that? I mean, you're the darkest wizard ever, but sometimes you say such dumb things."

Tom looked at her blankly.

"You genuinely don't understand why this bothers me," Lily muttered, "Okay, let me spell it out for you. The snake lady does not share the bed, and when I'm screaming your name bent over a desk, she doesn't get to watch."

Tom smirked, "Noted."

"Why are you smirking?"

Tom nudged his head in the direction of the fireplace where Nagini was lounging, and she looked thoroughly displeased.

"Do you think I enjoy watching such hedonistic displays?"

Lily bit her lip, "Did I piss her off?"

"She's offended that you think she wants to watch you," Tom said, picking up his quill and smirking at her, "You're not her type."

Lily could count on one hand the number of times she had heard Tom make a joke, so for that reason, she snorted and glanced over at Nagini, "Sorry, Nagini."

"Silly girl," Nagini hissed distastefully.

Tom smirked and looked back down at his work, "She accepts your apology."

"Liar."

"Oh, do be quiet, Nagini," Tom hissed in response, not missing the way Lily's breath hitched when he spoke in parseltongue.

After a day of bedrest, Narcissa released Harry on the condition that Draco kept a close eye on him over the next few days. Harry was well aware that Draco had plenty of blackmail on him after his pain-potion induced ramblings throughout the day, but he had blackmail on Draco too, so he wasn't overly concerned by that.

What did take him by surprise was the person he bumped into on his way out of the hospital wing.

"Professor Riddle," Harry said calmly.

Tom bowed his head, "May I escort you to the Slytherin common room?"

Harry gave him a strange look, "Sure."

They fell into step together, and Tom looked down at the ground, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Harry lied, but he knew it was pointless because he could already feel Tom rummaging around in his head.

"You were out of line," Tom said.

Harry nodded, "Yes, but I stand by what I said."

"I understand that it is a sore subject for you, naturally," Tom said, "And it has come to my attention that my punishment may have been too harsh."

"If this is an apology, it's a terrible one," Harry said, giving him a sidelong glance.

Tom sighed and came to a stop. He looked around and cast a spell on a mirror, changing the reflection into what looked like a dusty old study. He motioned for Harry to walk through, then he followed him inside.

The portal became a mirror once more, and Tom leant against an old wardrobe that was rattling funnily.

"I am sorry," He confessed, "I am quick to anger, and you undermined me in front of my followers. If I had not acted, I would have seemed weak."

"Yeah, I get it," Harry said, resting against a large wooden desk, "I get you, more than you think sometimes."

Tom looked him in the eye, "You have no idea what it is like to be me, Harry."

"I have a pretty good idea, actually," Harry confessed, "You give out pieces of yourself to people, but you never let them see the whole picture."

Tom frowned.

"People like Lily and Bellatrix, and your most loyal followers," Harry continued, his eyes on Toms, "But I've seen the whole picture. I know the boy who was abandoned at the orphanage and the charming teenager who sought to change the world. I know who you are, Tom."

Tom didn't lose his temper. He just tore his gaze away from Harry, "Then you know that when I say I am sorry, I do wholeheartedly mean that."

Harry nodded, "I do, and I appreciate it."

Tom cleared his throat, "I need you to focus on recruitment. It is more imperative than ever now that the Jones are rising against us. We need young blood, and we need to convince the neutral families to join us before the Jones's do."

"When Daphne comes back to school, I'll talk to her, and hopefully, from there, the others will follow," Harry said with a nod, "I know that the pressure is on."

With a nod, Tom turned the mirror back into a portal again, and this time when they stepped through it, they were in the dungeon corridor.

"Neat," Harry said as the portal changed back to a mirror, "How did you do that?"

Tom smiled, "I will never let you in on all of my secrets, Harry," he said on a parting note.

"You lied," Harry said in a sing-song voice as he fell into step with Tracey.

Tracey shot him an amused look, "Did I?"

"I remember what you said to me, all the way back at the beginning of the term," Harry said, shoving his hands in his pockets, "What do you want with a mediocre half-blood? Isn't that what you said?"

Tracey smiled sweetly, "I am a half-blood."

"Maybe, but you're not mediocre," Harry said, "Taking a dummy out with a magnified Flipendo? That was something to behold. The Dark Lord knows about your talent now, and he wants you."

Tracey turned around abruptly halfway across the covered bridge, and Harry nearly bumped into her.

"The Dark Lord knows about my talent? How would that be, exactly?"

Harry gave her an amused look, "Your brothers are Death Eaters, Tracey. You knew who Professor Riddle was from the minute he walked into the great hall."

"Wow, Sherlock," Tracey said sarcastically, "However did you work that one out?"

"You were one of the few people not to gape fawn at or fawn over him," Harry replied with a smirk.

Tracey grinned and took a step closer to Harry, "Bet you think you're so smart right now, don't you?"

"I think I'm pretty smart, yeah," Harry said, smirking down at her.

"Bet you think you have me right where you want me," Tracey said, lowering her voice as Harry eyed her lips, "You think you'll charm me into getting a big old snake tattooed on my arm, huh?"

They were standing very close now, definitely within kissing distance, and Harry still looked far too smug for Tracey's liking.

Tracey grinned wickedly, "Pity I'm into girls, really. If you aimed to seduce me into joining the dark side, you would have had more luck sending the pretty little thing that the Dark Lord keeps on the side."

Harry grinned, "Well played."

Tracey smirked over her shoulder at him, "See you later, Harry!"

Harry had been trying to pick his moment to catch Neville, but it seemed that the Gryffindor was avoiding him because every time a class finished, he dashed away before Harry could pull him aside. He had been carefully observing Neville's interactions with Ginny too, and it seemed like he had been pulling away from her as well.

As such, Harry lay in wait and ambushed him after dinner. Neville jumped out of his skin when Harry grabbed him by the arm and signed, "How are you?"

Neville glared at him and leant against the wall while he caught his breath, "You scared me, you idiot."

Harry grinned and signed, "Well, I am naturally terrifying."

Neville snorted and raised an eyebrow.

Harry signed, "Seriously. Are you okay?"

Neville nodded and signed back, "Fine."

Harry didn't look convinced, "Totally okay with your girlfriend's alter-ego, you know…"

He acted out his head blowing up, and Neville punched him in the shoulder, "You are a fucking idiot."

Harry grinned, in response, "You are okay, then."

"I'm fine with that," Neville signed.

"It's the push and pull that is getting to me. You hide it well, but you want me on your side, probably as Death Eater."

Harry didn't deny it; he just nodded.

"And the Army of the Phoenix wants me too. They apologised for my grandmother when I retrieved her body. I gave her a basic funeral, you know?"

Harry nodded.

"They seemed desperate. They gave me this big guilt trip about how I was their last hope. They said I was just as important to them as you had been."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Bullshit. You're their back-up boy-who-lived, I told you that."

"I know," Neville signed, "But I don't know how much longer they can pull me for before I rip in half."

"You need to pick a side," Harry signed, catching Neville's eye, "Make a decision."

"I know. If this is what it feels like to be you, then it must suck to be you all the time."

Harry snorted and signed, "Well, it hasn't been a picnic, honestly, but this is different than it was with me. One side wanted to kill me, and the other painted me as their messiah. This is different; everybody wants you. You're like the hot girl that everyone wants."

Neville snorted and signed, "I'm the hot girl?"

Harry grinned in amusement, "You're the hottest girl," he signed.

A snort sounded behind them, and Harry spun around, "Daphne! You're back."

Neville signed behind Harry's back, "The bitch is back."

Daphne chuckled and signed, "I will kill you."

Neville just grinned, and Harry looked between them in amusement.

"Could we go for a walk, Potter?" Daphne asked, looking back to Harry, "There have been some developments this week that I think we should discuss."

"'We need to talk' would have sufficed," Harry said, waving at Neville and holding out his arm for Daphne.

She looked at it, raised an eyebrow and said, "You might have saved my sister, but really?"

Harry smiled, "Worth a shot?"

Daphne shook her head, and they fell into step together in the icy grounds.

"How is your sister?" Harry asked.

Daphne sighed and pulled her cloak closer for comfort rather than for warmth, "Honestly? Not good. My father is keeping her at home for the foreseeable future. She doesn't feel safe anywhere else, and if I'm honest, I don't think he feels comfortable having her away from him after what happened."

"I can understand that," Harry admitted.

"It was hard enough getting him to let me come back to school," Daphne admitted, "I had to tell him that the Dark Lords favourite henchman had a crush on me to convince him that I would be safe here."

She had said it in jest, but Harry chuckled, "Well, it's true. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

Daphne didn't say anything; she just looked away.

"But after what happened to Theo…" Harry said with a shake of his head, "I'm not going to involve myself with people. It's too..."

"Painful?" Daphne asked.

Harry shrugged, "Not the word I was looking for."

"Of course it wasn't," Daphne said slyly.

"I'm sorry, you know?" Harry said, still not looking at her, "He was your cousin, and I got him killed."

"Ron Weasley killed him," Daphne reminded Harry, "And yes, he was my cousin, but Astoria is my sister, and she is alive because of you."

Harry looked up at her.

"Do not think that I take that lightly because I promise you that I don't," Daphne said sincerely, "I meant what I said when I asked you for help. You, and by extension, the Dark Lord have my loyalty in whatever capacity that you want it."

"I don't want you to become a Death Eater," Harry said instantly, "I do intend on protecting you and making you a Death Eater wouldn't be conducive to that."

"And what if I told you that I wanted in?" Daphne asked, her eyes on his, "That I wanted vengeance?"

"I would still say no," Harry said, reaching out and grabbing her hand, "Because take it from me, vengeance is not worth the stain it leaves on your soul.

Daphne looked down at their joined hands and ran her thumb along the scars that read 'I must not tell lies'.

"How is it that your hands are scarred from war, but I trust them completely?" Daphne asked, looking up at him once more.

"I don't know," Harry replied. These days Daphne was about the only person who could reduce him to that 15-year-old boy who couldn't string a sentence together.

Daphne smiled and leant forward, kissing him on the cheek just as Narcissa had.

"You have my loyalty, and I will swear it at the next full moon," She said, drawing back, "But as you requested, I won't become a Death Eater."

Harry smiled, "Thank you."

Daphne laughed, "No, Harry, thank you," she said.

They fell into step together; instinctively. Harry walked towards the treeline around the lake. It was a place he found relaxing, and he had done since his third year.

"So these developments you wanted to discuss?"

"Hm," Daphne said with a nod, "My sister doubts her loyalties."

Harry frowned, "Your older sister?"

"Lydia, yes," Daphne said with a nod, "She wrote me a letter. It didn't say much, just that she wished Astoria well and that she was desperate to see her but that the Order wouldn't let her leave the safe house."

"Well, they will be reluctant to lose anyone else after the Battle of Longbottom Grove," Harry mused.

"I don't quite know how Lydia got drawn into it," Daphne admitted, "It just seems that luck has not been in her favour. She married Lee because she had to, and even my father could see that."

Harry chuckled, "She was pregnant?"

"Uh-huh," Daphne replied, "And a baby born in wedlock to a muggle-born is better than one born out of wedlock to an unnamed father."

"True," Harry mused, "What age is her daughter?"

"Rhea will be one next month," Daphne replied, "It was because of her that my father and Lydia fell out. He was worried that the baby would be a squib-"

"Just because the father was a muggle-born?" Harry asked in surprise.

Daphne shook her head, "Because he was a mediocre wizard as well as a muggle-born."

"Ah," Harry realised, "So what did he do? Kidnap the baby and take her to one of the top research facilities in another country?"

Daphne shot Harry an amused look, "It's alarming how well you understand my fathers thought process."

"It's more alarming how predictable he is," Harry drawled.

Daphne chuckled, "He took Rhea to France. Lydia and Lee were freaking out, but the results came back that she was a squib. He and Lydia had the biggest argument ever after that, and he disowned her."

"Then she fell in with the light through her husband, I suppose," Harry mused, "The Lee you are referring to is Lee Jordan, right? Your sister was a Ravenclaw in Fred and George's year?"

Daphne nodded, "I'm the only one who was in Slytherin like my mother. The other two followed my father's footsteps."

"Well, sometimes it pays to be unique," Harry said, smiling over at her.

"The reason I mentioned my sister's doubt was because I had hoped you might be able to spare her," Daphne confessed, "I think, given a second chance, she would come back to us."

Harry nodded, "I promise, if I can, I'll make sure we spare her."

It seemed like those words had lifted a weight off Daphne's shoulders. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Harry."

"Ginny – my favourite banshee."

Ginny looked up at Harry in exasperation, "Harry – my favourite Death Eater!" she replied sarcastically.

Harry grinned and sat down opposite her at the Gryffindor table, "How are you?"

Ginny raised an eyebrow, "Let me think about that. My mother is dead, and from what Aideen tells me, a psychotic, starving banshee has taken control of her body. Oh, and that banshee is on the loose with Merlin knows what kind of vendetta on her mind. Two of my brothers are hunting, said psycho-mother-banshee, and you literally just bled out another of my brothers."

Harry nodded thoughtfully, "Bad week then?"

"Bad year," Ginny muttered irritably.

"You saw what Ron did. You know he deserved it," Harry pointed out.

"Shall we just agree that his stupidity got him killed? Because anyone with common sense would know not to curse your boyfriend in the back," Ginny said darkly, "That makes you angry, and nobody liked you when you're angry before you were a Death Eater."

Harry nodded again, "Fair point. I would apologise, but I'm not sorry for killing him. Are you sorry for blowing up Augusta's head?"

Ginny glared at him, "I didn't do that, Aideen did."

"Yeah, but you unlocked the door and said, 'go on girl, out you go, dinners ready', didn't you?"

Ginny's glare intensified, and her eyes flashed, then burned amber. She screwed them shut, but they were still the most avid shade of amber when they opened. Some of the people sitting near them screamed, but Harry just rolled his eyes.

"Good morning Aideen. Are you feeling happily sated?"

Aideen gave him an exasperated look, "You are aware that when you rile Ginny up, it forces me out?"

"Of course I am, but frankly, your more fun to talk to."

Aideen laughed and spoke in her thick Irish accent, "Flattery will get you nowhere. Banshees only mate to produce offspring. As soon as they have been impregnated, they murder their mate."

Harry made a face, "Yeah, suddenly, I'm less interested in you."

Aideen cocked her head at him, "The next time I have to tell you to leave Ginny alone, I will not be doing it with words."

"Point taken," Harry said.

Aideen nodded and bowed her head. She closed her eyes, and when they re-opened, they were brown.

"She's kind of scary," Harry remarked.

"She's an ancient magical creature who feeds on fear," Ginny pointed out.

"Hm," Harry agreed, "Where's Nev-Nev?"

"Do I look like his mother? I don't keep tabs on him," Ginny replied, "What do you want with him anyway?"

"His decision," Harry said, narrowing his eyes at Ginny, "He's spoken to you about that, I presume."

Ginny eyed Harry, "What makes you think I would tell you if he had?"

"Oh, come on, we're friends again now, aren't we?"

"Friends is a strong word," Ginny said as Harry helped himself to a sausage from her plate.

"I'm wounded, truly, Ginevra," Harry said with a sigh.

The entire Gryffindor table was listening in on their conversation, but neither of them seemed too concerned about that.

"So, what it's going to be, Gin?" Harry asked, taking a bite of the sausage he had just nicked, "Because wherever Neville goes, you will follow when you turn 17, so really, this is a joint decision. Is it your first one as a couple? Is this the big 'should we move in together, are we ready, oh I just don't know' debate?"

Ginny glared at him, "Bite me."

Harry grinned and got to his feet, "If you want me to bite you, buy me dinner first!" he called as he made his way back to the Slytherin table.

"Is he flirting with her or riling her up?" Tracey asked, cocking her head at Harry and Ginny.

"Knowing Potter? Both," Daphne replied dryly.

"Oh, I have missed your dry humour," Tracey said, nudging her friend in the ribs, "Are you jealous?"

"Of a man who is at best a manwhore and at worst a borderline sociopath?" Daphne quipped.

Sophie chuckled, "He's hot, though."

"Kind of beautiful actually," Someone else said.

"So is lava. It doesn't mean you should touch it," Daphne said, tearing her eyes away from Harry.

"He's an arse," Tracey agreed, "But a compelling one. He almost convinced me to join his ranks, and I don't even like dudes."

Draco shot Tracey an amused smile, "Will you be taking your place with your brothers at the next full moon? The Dark Lord is keen for you to do so."

"Yes, Potter said as much in his attempt to seduce me," Tracey said, "And to be honest, I haven't entirely decided yet."

"Neither has Longbottom, so it seems," Blaise said as he watched the Gryffindor table.

Draco looked at the dark-skinned man; he had narrowed eyes as if he was concentrating immensely.

"Are you reading their lips?"

Blaise sighed in a long-suffering way, "Yes, I would be if I didn't have to answer inane questions."

Daphne chuckled, and Draco rolled his eyes, "Oh, okay, boss," he muttered sarcastically.

"Well, if you do decide to come to the initiation on the full moon, I will be there too," Daphne said.

Tracey looked at her in surprise, "You're becoming a Death Eater?"

"No, I am just swearing my loyalty to the Dark Lord and possibly my families if I can convince my father to talk to Potter at Theo's funeral," Daphne said as she spun her wand between her fingers.

"But Potter asked that I do not become a Death Eater."

Draco snorted, "Could he be any more predictable if he tried? The Dark Lord has forbidden him from being romantically involved with other Death Eaters, so his solution is to tell you that you can't be one?"

"He asked me actually; he didn't tell me to do anything," Daphne argued, "And I very much doubt he's going to be getting romantically involved with anyone after what happened to Theo. He'll use people for sex, but that is all his conquests are to him."

"I don't even think you believe that," Tracey muttered under her breath.

Daphne responded by cursing her friend with a spell that made her mouth disappear, just as Harry arrived at the Slytherin table. Tracey glared at her, and Daphne smiled sweetly in response.

"Cat got your tongue, Tracey?"

* TBC *