I wake up at six in the morning as I have taken to doing. I dress in athletic shorts and a long sleeve shirt, then head outside to run a few laps around the castle. Curfew ends at exactly six, and breakfast starts at seven and gets over at eight thirty.

After running my laps, I go inside to get ready. It's seven o'clock and Neville and Dean are the only ones awake. Dean gives me a weird look, but I ignore him in favor of showering and changing into my robes. We finish getting ready at the same time, and head down to the great hall after waking the others up.

"So Harry, where did you go this morning?" Dean asks once we sit down.

"I went for a run around the castle."

"Oh." He looks confused but drops it. I fill my plate, and am eating a piece of bacon when Hermoine comes in.

"Good morning boys. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes." We reply in unison.

The four of us laugh, and I ask her how she slept.

"Quiet well thank you."

McGonagall walks up to us with our schedules as we finish our food, Ron and Seamus having gotten here five minutes ago.

"Harry what do you have second?" Ron asks.

"Ancient studies."

"Ugh! I was hoping that was a joke."

—-

"Harry, my boy! I am glad to see you are safe. You had us very worried you know." Dumbledore says as I enter his office.

He requested I meet with him after classes today. I school my features into a sheepish look.

"Sorry sir. I didn't mean to worry you. I figured that if I could find somewhere at least as secure as the Dursley's it would be fine. I couldn't stay there anymore."

"Why not? They are your family, and they only want what's best for you."

"I'm sorry, sir, but you don't know them like I do. They do not consider me family, and frankly, I am inclined to agree with them on that single matter."

"I think you may be exaggerating things a bit. Just because you don't always get your way doesn't mean they don't consider you family. And what about the people you are staying with? You wouldn't want to inconvenience them now would you?"

"You are smart headmaster, before this summer, I think I may have fallen for that and given you information on my location. There were a lot of things I learned this summer, and so I have become more cautious. I can assure you though, that Voldemort cannot hurt me where I am."

"But—"

"I will not change my mind Headmaster. Have a nice evening."

—-

"This year, I will be assigning you partners. Your partner will work with you every class this year." Professor Slughorn announces. I tune him out until I hear my name.

"Potter and Malfoy."

Hiding a grin, I move to the space next to Draco. I know that as Hadrian Snape we are friends, but that doesn't mean I can't have some fun with this.

"You will be brewing the drought of living death. Instructions are on the board. If anyone successfully brews this potion, the pair will each get a vile of liquid luck. You may begin."

"Set up the workspace while I get the ingredients, Potter." He sneers. "Do exactly as I tell you and maybe if we are lucky it won't blow up in our faces." I raise my eyebrow at the statement.

"Are you really trying to boss me around Malfoy? I think you've forgotten who outranks who. Set up the workspace. I have my own ingredients store that doesn't have other people touching it and ruining it while grabbing their own."

He reluctantly does as I say, but when we are both finished, he steps up to the cauldron and grabs the stirring rod.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"Brewing the potion. You may outrank me, but I am still the better brewer."

"I am certain that isn't true. After all, you aren't the one apprenticing with Hadrian under professor Snape. Move over and do as I say. The instructions on the board are wrong."

"How could they be wrong? He taught professor snape everything he knows."

"You should really learn not to have blind faith in people Draco. Not everything is as it seems, is it?"

I get to work and tell him exactly what to do. We get into several arguments before the end of the class, me winning every time by threatening to tell Tom he wasn't listening. By the end of the class, we were the only pair with the right potion.

"Now class, if you have followed the directions I put on the board, you will see that your potion is not the same color or consistency as the end results on the board. The potion on the board was a safe alteration, but it renders the potion useless. I did not tell you about this because I wanted to see how many of you would pay close enough attention to it. If your potion is the correct color and consistency, raise your hand."

Draco and I both raise our hands, earning a scowl from some of the other students. I can't help but to smile when I see that Hermione is giving me a proud smile and a thumbs up.

"Great job Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy! Mr. Potter, I do believe you inherited your mothers potion skills. Here you go, one for each of you. Congratulations. A lesson can be learned from this. Anyone can make mistakes, or lead you astray, even a teacher or mentor. Every class, you will have to determine what I changed, and brew the potion correctly. Each night I will require you to write a minimum of a half a foot on the difference and what the correct instruction does for the potion. This will be your homework tonight as well. Class dismissed."

"Well done, Harry! I am so glad you have been focusing more on your studies."

"Mione, even if he is focusing on his studies, there is no way he could have figured that out. Snape is Malfoy's godfather, obviously he would know the instructions were wrong." Ron says.

I scowl at him and tell them I'm going for a walk. Hermione holds Ron back when he tries to follow.

—-Hermione's POV—-

"What are you doing Mione? I was going to go with him."

"What I am doing, is preventing you from getting punched in the face! I can't believe you actually said that Ronald!"

"Said what?"

"That it was Malfoy who figured it out! I was watching them during class to make sure Harry would be alright working with him, but somehow he got Malfoy to do what he said every time. Harry was giving him instructions, and Harry was the one actually brewing the potion. Harry caught the mistake, not Malfoy."

"What? But there's no way!"

"There is too. Harry has worked hard all summer to get to where he is, and he told you that too. He wants to do better so he can protect us. Like it or not, Harry is doing what he can to help all of us survive this war! You should be grateful, instead you're only trying to stand in his way! Don't talk to either of us until you get that through your thick skull!"

I huff and storm in the direction Harry went.

—- Hadrian's POV—-

Instead of going for a walk I decide to spend my lunch in my father's office. I know he spends his lunches in there every day. As soon as the door is shut, I throw up parsel wards and start pacing the room.

"Hadrian? What's wrong?" He asks.

"Weasley! The bastard said that there was no way that I was the only one to notice the mistake Professor Slughorn intentionally put in the instructions! Said it must have been Draco that figured it out even though I told him on the train that I had worked hard all summer to get better grades this year! He and Dumbledore have already sent several spells at me and put potions in my food and drink! If it weren't for the fact that I know what is going on and can defend myself!"

He walks over and pulls me against his chest, running his hands through my hair in a calming manner. When my breathing returns to normal, he pulls me into a seat and calls an elf to bring us lunch. We eat in a comfortable silence, enjoying each other's company. Eventually, lunch is over, and I take a seat in the front row since defense is my next class.

"There you are Harry! I've been looking all over for you! Are you alright?" Hermione says as she takes the seat next to me and flings her arms around me.

"Mione, I'm fine. Why? What happened?"

"Nothing. I yelled at Ron after you left and I went to look for you. I know you were the one who noticed the mistake. I saw you giving Malfoy instructions. You brewed that potion. Ron is just being stupid."

"Thanks Mione. It means more than you know that you are supporting me."

"Attention class! Mr. Potter has informed me of what he taught you last year. Because he is not a qualified teacher, we will spend the first week of classes going over what you learned during that time, correcting your mistakes, and catching everyone up to the same level."

—-

"Harry, can you help me? I can't get these two to connect properly." Asks Hermione as we work on our runes homework together.

"Yeah, you're connecting it wrong. If you put it on this side, and connect it with this one too, then you can connect it right... there. See? Cause that cancels the sleep—"

"Sleep part of the rune and leaves the stun. Then with the stasis one you can trap them without them leaving the circle and they will still be completely aware of their surroundings! You're brilliant Harry Potter. Absolutely brilliant!" She gushes.

"I never thought I would live to see the day that Harry Potter helped Hermione Granger with homework instead of the other way around. Careful Dean, don't get too close. I hear it's catchy."

"What's your problem Ron?" Dean asks.

"What? It was a joke! Gee. Tough crowd." I force a chuckle and sling an arm around his shoulder.

"Does that mean we're cool?"

"Yeah." He responds with a small cringe. "We're... cool."

An idea suddenly pops in my head. Ron wants to be around me about as much as I want to be around him. It wouldn't be difficult to fuck with him by being around him all the time and being overly friendly with him. I can even make it better by telling them that I'm gay. Even if I introduce them to a disguised Tom, a few lingering looks, a hand on the arm for a little longer than necessary, and he'll think I'm interested in him! I may even be able to get Mione and Nev in on it! With a bright smile on my face, I pull him to sit down right next to me.

"I know you don't care much for studying, and I have finished my work, so why don't you and I play a game of chess?" I offer.

"Yeah!"

Nobody likes playing chess with Ron cause he always wins and he is a sore winner. I have had lots of chances to beat him if I'm being honest, but I'm not stupid enough to see what happens when he loses a match if he's this bad when he wins. We sit in the corner of the room with his beaten old chess set, and I watch as he gives me four opportunities to win during the game and I easily lose by walking into every trap he sets. We play about four rounds before dinner rolls around.

After dinner I feign exhaustion and pull the curtains around my bed with a strong sticking spell and some privacy wards in parseltongue. Under my pillow is my two way journal. I open it up and begin to write in it.

Tom, are you there?

The ink fades to be replaced with new writing.

Always for you.

'You're blushing! You must be talking with Tommy!' Athena says from my shoulder. 'Tell him I said hi.'

Athena said to tell you hi.

Hello Athena.

What are you doing?

Just paperwork. Oh how I loathe it. What about you? I chuckle (read giggle) at his dislike of paperwork.

I figured out a way to mess with Ron.

Is that so?

Yeah. He clearly doesn't want to be my friend, or really even be near me, so I have decided to be overly friendly with him. At one point or another, he will find out I am gay. Then the overly friendliness will seem like more than that. He'll start to freak out about it, and will think I'm interested in him. I am going to get Neville to help and once she is filled in, if she is still friends with me I am going to get Hermione in on it.

Wow. That sounds like you've thought it through. I do see one problem with that though.

What?

We'll have to pretend to be just friends when I visit you on Hogsmead weekends.

No, I figure so long as he knows I'm gay, and that the others drop hints about me liking him, it shouldn't matter if I have a boyfriend or not. Besides, who could resist the charms of Ronald Weasley?

Good point. Actually, I may be able to make things better. What would you say to have a tall, freckled, redhead boyfriend named Ryan Wiley? After all, that's not at all like Ronald Weasley. Neither is Ryan's love for chess.

Did you know that he is a Keeper whenever he plays quidditch with his large family? They're all homeschooled by their muggle-born parents and really smart. He has to be able to compete with Weasley on something.

I am getting the distinct feeling that it will be on more than just something. No matter. I think it's a brilliant idea. You'll have to come up behind me when I get there so I know for sure it's you.

We can act like you didn't know I was coming too. Then you will have an excuse not to tell them and it won't seem weird that I sneak up behind you.

I can't wait! I had better get some sleep though. I love you.

I love you too kitten. Sleep well.

Sleep well.

I put the journal under my pillow, cast a warming charm on Athena's pillow, and get some sleep.

—-Time skip to first Hogsmead weekend (quick A/N to explain something. Vernon has never signed the permission slip for hogsmead before this year. In this story, Hogsmead weekends take place every other weekend, starting with the second weekend of the school year. Finally, before returning to Hogwarts, Hadrian got a small money pouch connected to his vaults so he can take out however much he needs at any given time) —-

I wake up with a giddy feeling. Today is the day I finally get to see Tom again! After going through my morning routine, I change into a pair of black capris, and an emerald green and black plaid button up T-shirt . I almost try to put my hair up but then I remember that Harry Potter has short hair. A light, barely noticeable amount of makeup is on my face. I was unable to help myself knowing that I will be seeing Tom.

It was decided that I wouldn't say anything about me being gay before the trip. Tom said it would make things more believable, but I know he just wants to be there to see their faces.

As I walk down to the great hall with Nev, Dean, and Mione as we have begun doing every day, I continuously chant 'Ryan Wiley' in my head so I don't mess it up. I know that Tom has made his identity as Ryan as real as possible. If anyone felt the need to check into it, they would see nothing out of the ordinary with the Wiley family.

Ryan is seventeen years old, the perfect age to be able to aparate, and legally use magic outside of classes.

"Harry are you alright?"Hermione asks from beside me.

I look up to see my friends are watching me with concern while Ron stuffs his face.

"Yeah I'm fine Mione. It's just the first year I have anything to be homesick over." She looks at me with sympathy and puts a hand on mine.

"I've noticed you zoning out more and more lately. If you want to talk about it, I am happy to listen."

"Thanks Mione. And if it wasn't so dangerous, I would. I will be fine though. Hopefully today I will be able to keep my mind off of it. It's my first Hogsmead weekend after all."

"Well I will do my best to help distract you." She informs me.

I smile and pat her hand, returning to my food. When we are all finished, we make our way to the carriages. Neville smirks when he sees my restlessness and sits next to me, with Luna sitting on my lap. Dean is next to Neville and Ron, Hermione, and Seamus are on the opposite side of the carriage.

Finally, the wait is over, and we climb out of the carriage and walk into town. A pair of arms wrap around me from behind and I quickly pull away, raising my wand to the 'attacker. The others, having noticed my reaction, follow my lead.

"Well that's not the warm welcome I was expecting."

'Ryan' is wearing a blue button up with khakis. He has spiky red hair, lots of freckles, and has studs in both ears. He has a similar build as without the glamour and is the same height as always.

"Ryan?!" I launch myself into his open arms and cling to him tightly.

"Hey kitten."

I pull away slightly to look at him and he takes the opportunity to capture my lips. I moan slightly into the long awaited kiss, then somebody clears their throat. We pull apart and I don't have to fake the blush. Looking around, I see that Neville is smirking at us(something he's been doing a lot lately) Luna is smiling wistfully, Hermione is blushing and confused, Dean and Seamus aren't much better off than her. Ron is red, but not from blushing, and he looks disgusted. When he sees me looking, Ron changes his look to confused, but can't change the red face.

"Hello Ryan Wiley. My name is Luna Lovegood. It is nice to finally meet you." She holds out her hand to him.

"Ah, so you're the one Harry told me about. The one who always seems to know things. I assure you Ms. Lovegood, the pleasure of this meeting is all mine." He kisses the back of her hand with a smile.

"Harry, what's going on here?" Ron asks.

"I- um. I wasn't sure how you guys would react, so I haven't said anything yet. I- I'm gay. This is my boyfriend Ryan Wiley. We met this summer and hit it off. Things just kind of went from there."

Everyone is silent for a while, and I shuffle nervously, not that I have any real reason to. If they don't like it, they don't have to be friends with me.

"Harry that's wonderful news!" Hermione exclaims.

"Congratulations man." Seamus adds.

"Anyone would be stupid to react badly to that. As long as you are happy, we are happy for you." Informs Dean.

"Luna told me, so I already knew." Nev says.

"Honestly Harry, you never seemed to be interested in anyone. I was getting worried for a while there. I suppose it makes sense that you simply weren't interested in girls. Anyhow, my name is Hermione Granger. I am a muggle born, and the only person with better grades than me is Harry himself. However I do get the feeling that you may have something to do with that." She sticks her hand out and he kisses it.

After introductions are over, Ron doing his best to not show he is bothered by it, we start to stroll through town. Dean, Seamus and Ron all go off on their own, and the five of us left go to the bookstore.

I haven't let go of Tom's hand since he got here, but he doesn't seem to mind. He pulls me to the runes area to see if they have anything I haven't read yet. When it becomes apparent that there are none, we go over to the potions section. In the end, we leave with a load of five muggle fiction books, three muggle science textbooks, two potions books, four magical creatures books, and three magical cookbooks.

'Ryan' shrinks my books and puts them in his pocket. We wander in and out of stores until noon when we go to the three broomsticks for lunch. The others meet up with us and everyone begins to tell 'Ryan' embarrassing stories about me. Ron seems to have calmed down a lot thankfully. As much fun as it is to rile him up, I don't feel like getting into a shouting match on my first official Hogsmead weekend. After lunch 'Ryan' and I are left alone by the others.

"So how is the plan working out?" He asks me.

"Great! He's already begun to squirm. I plan on talking to Hermione soon. I was hoping to do it tonight, but I don't want to take her to the R.O.R. in case someone comes looking for us there."

"Why not take her to the chamber?"

"Because there has been a group of third years hanging around there all the time. They've been keeping Myrtle company, and I can't really make them leave when they are just being nice."

"Hm. I see the problem. What if you took her to Severus' office? If you will be explaining things anyway you will be able to explain why you are there."

"That's brilliant! Nobody would think to look for us there!" I give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Yes, well I suppose I must be in my line of work." He runs a hand through his red locks and puffs out his chest. "But I think I deserve more than just a peck on the cheek."

"Is that so? Well, allow me to fix my mistake. Follow me."

I lead him to the Shrieking Shack and transfigure a couch. Pushing him down, I straddle his lap, and ignore the blush spreading across my face. I lock our lips together, nibbling slightly on his bottom lip. He groans and flips me onto my back.

"That was rather out of character." He tells me as he begins kissing down my jaw.

"I had to make it up to you."

That was apparently the wrong thing to say as hi pulls away from the hickey he was in the process of leaving on my neck to look at me.

"Hadrian, you do know that I won't ever make you do something you're uncomfortable with, right?"

My eyes widen when I realize the misunderstanding.

"Of course! I didn't mean it like that! It was more a joke than anything. I just— well I guess— ugh I wanted this alright? I don't think I'm ready to go all the way yet, but I'm okay with what we've done so far. Actually I'm more than just okay with it. I like it. I just—"

"Hadrian, I understand." He chuckles deeply making me blush for more than one reason.

He returns to the hickey on my neck, not that it isn't bad enough already. His warm breath on the cooling saliva sends shivers down my spine until he latches his mouth back onto it. All I can do is moan and writhe under him as he moves to leave on just below my jaw. His knee moves up between my legs, rubbing against me and making me moan out in pleasure. My hands are clenching his shirt until he takes them in one hand and pins them above my head.

"Harry are you in here?" A voice calls from the other side of the door as it opens.

We freeze and nobody moves for a few moments. Then the door slams shut and we quickly pull ourselves together. When we are somewhat decent, minus my blushing face and his smirk, I call out.

"You-you can come in now."

Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Dean, and Seamus all walk in awkwardly. Ginny seems to be fuming.

"Sorry Harry. We didn't realize." Hermione says, always the one to take the lead. "We were just going to let you know that we were heading back since we only have a half hour left."

"Oh. Right sorry."

"You should go. I have a meeting in an hour for a possible apprenticeship. Mother would lose her head if I were late. I'll see you in two weeks." He gives me a quick kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He leaves and I follow the others back to the carriages. Ginny keeps shooting glares at Luna, who is once again on my lap, and trying to look hot and upset at the same time. It's not working. After dinner in the Great Hall, Ginny pulls me into an empty classroom.

"Harry how could you?!"

"How could I what?"

"How could you lead me on like that? I thought you loved me! Now you're pretending to be gay and sleeping with Loony Lovegood? And you didn't need to go so far as to pretend that you were about to have SEX with that guy. I already know it's all fake! If you don't break things off with them soon, I'm going to break up with you."

"Ginny, you can't break up with someone you were never dating. I am not sleeping with Luna, she is like a sister to me, just like you were. Ryan and I are not faking it. Also, we had no way of knowing that you would be coming, so what you saw in there wasn't fake either. Besides, it's none of your business whether or not I have sex with my boyfriend. I am, and always have been gay, and therefore I have never even considered having a relationship with you. Stay out of my business."

I storm out of the room and take Hermione gently by the arm.

"I need to talk with you. Alone."

"We'll catch up with you guys later." Ron tells the others, clearly assuming that I meant both of them.

"Ron, unless you want to be involved in boy talk, I suggest you go with them."

He cringes and catches up with the others. She keeps asking questions as we make our way to the dungeons, but I ignore her. She eventually figures out that I don't plan to talk until we are in private, and stops talking altogether. We finally reach Sev's office and I knock on the door.

"May I help—" he doesn't even get a chance to see who it was before I storm inside, dragging Mione behind me.

I begin pacing the office angrily.

"Harry! You can't just barge into Professor Snape's office uninvited!"

"She threatened to break up with me if I didn't stop pretending to be gay."

"Potter."

"Can you believe it?! She said it as though I had ever agreed to go out with her in the first place!"

"Potter."

"I would never go out with a self centered "

"Potter!"

"Little bi—"

"Hadrian!" I look up to my father now and see them both staring at me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean—" I begin to curl in on myself and he sighs, pulling me into a hug. At first I flinch away, then I bury my head in his shoulder, shaking with adrenaline.

"I understand you are upset, but you do have a guest, and she seems to be very confused at the moment."

"Right I'm sorry."

"I'm assuming you would like to do this here?"

"If that's alright. I was going to ask, but then she happened. It was Tom's idea."

"Very well, but you should go to the living area instead. Any of the teachers could come in here."

"Thanks."

I hug him quickly, then lead a befuddled Hermione behind the painting of Slytherin brewing potions, hissing a greeting to the man as I go. We settle down by the fire with tea , and I begin.

"Hermione, I know you must be confused, but I brought you here to explain. A lot happened this summer, but I suppose I could start with the fact that, the boy you met this summer, Hadrian Snape, is me. Harry Potter never actually existed."