"Yes." I say in barely more than a whisper. "Yes!" I shout, knocking into him excitedly and kissing him.

He returns the kiss, hugging me tightly against him, and when we finally come up for air, I have tears in my eyes, and I can't stop grinning. He takes my left hand and places the gorgeous ring on my finger. I admire it for a moment, then kiss him again. Then I look at Dad and Remus.

"You two knew about this didn't you?"

"Of course. Did you really think he wouldn't ask both of us for permission before he asked you?" Dad asks.

"No, I suppose he wouldn't."

I get up to hug them both, and they take a better look at the ring. I can't believe he really loves me this much.

--

It's the thirty first today, which means it's Tom's birthday. Dad says he doesn't really celebrate his birthday, and that he normally just focuses on his work, so I had Mr. Malfoy cancel all of Tom's work plans for the day. I think that he thinks just because he didn't tell me when his birthday was, I wouldn't find out on my own. He had a lot of stuff to cancel and rearrange.

The elves woke me up early so I could prepare breakfast in bed for us. I made a breakfast casserole that was mum and Petunia's aunts recipe that I tweaked a little over the years. Breakfast is set to the side with warming charms, and I climb on top of Tom, kissing him slowly. As he wakes up, he begins to respond to the kiss, flipping me over at one point and grinding against me.

"You should have known that waking me up that way wouldn't end in just a kiss good morning."

"Oh believe me, I knew better." I smirk.

Warning! Smut scene ahead! Again, scene does not belong to me! The one who wrote it asked that I don't mention their name at all, so all I will say is thank you to the one who wrote this!

He growls, moving to kiss me roughly, hands already moving to remove the few articles of clothing I slept in. I pull down the boxers he's wearing to find he's already half hard. I knock him to the side, leaning down to take his member lightly between my lips, sucking gently. He groans, pulling my head down, but with the snap of my fingers he's restrained, reduced to thrusting.

My arm keeps his hips down while I slowly tease him with my mouth. When I decide he's hard enough, I release him, prepping myself slowly enough to torture him even more. Lining myself up, I drop straight down, gasping at the sudden fullness, and Tom cries out in pleasure at the same time.

Once I have a good rythm down, I release Tom's bindings. Instead of allowing me to continue, he turns me around so my ass is in the air, and slams into me as hard as he can. His pace is fast from the start, and it's not long before I feel his hot seed fill me, my own flowing over us and the bed. When we've finally caught our breath, I curl into his side, twirling his chest hair between my fingers.

End Smut Scene

"Happy birthday Tom."

His body tenses, and he sits up, knocking me off of him.

"You did this for my birthday?"

"Well, yes. I mean, you guys did something nice for my birthday, and Dad said you never celebrate yours, so I wanted to do something special for you too."

"Did it ever occur to you that I don't celebrate for a reason?!"

I jump back in surprise. Why is he mad?

"I'm sorry I--"

"Go away. "

"What?"

"I said leave me alone!"

I summon a change of clothes, dress, then go to my study to floo to the Leaky Cauldron.

Tumbling out of the floo, and landing on my face does not brighten my mood any. Exiting the Leaky Cauldron on the muggle side, I find myself at a bit of a loss as to where to go. Dad will be at the Mannor by now, as he has gotten a bit behind in his work. I don't want to bother my friends with this. Merlin knows I bother them enough as it is.

Picking a random direction, I begin wandering aimlessly, tears blurring my sight to the point that I didn't even notice as I walked into a worse part of town. Finding a random park, I sit on a bench, pulling my knees into my chest, and burying my head in my folded arms. I cry there for a long time, only looking up when I hear footsteps approaching.

--

Tom storms through Riddle Mannor like a storm, his followers moving out of his way quickly so as to not invoke any of that rath. As he makes his way through the mansion, his faithful familiar Nagini follows behind him, worriedly asking him questions about what's wrong.

"Severus!" He bellows upon reaching the dungeons.

"Yes My Lord?" He responds, noting the presence of other Death Eaters in the room.

Tom notices them as well, and glares at them until they scurry out of the room.

"Did you put him up to this? You know I don't celebrate my birthday, and for a reason!"

"I know of no such reasons, and it was his idea."

"I don't care whose idea it was! It shouldn't have happened at all!"

"Did it ever occur to you that he was trying to do something nice for you?" His voice never changes volume, but there is clear anger behind his words.

"Nice? There is nothing nice about today!"

"But there should be. Even if there wasn't before, there should be now. You have him now, and he just wanted to give you a good birthday for once, because he cares about you, even if they didn't."

Tom stands there, mouth agape as though to argue, but he can't find the words. Severus is right after all. Hadrian is the first to have ever attempted to celebrate his birthday, and instead of being grateful, he threw him out.

"Well... he... I..."

"Well, what? He didn't do anything wrong? You blew things out of proportion? I agree."

"What have I done?"

"What should you do? My suggestion is to go home and apologize."

"He's not there."

Severus pauses in his motions, face darkening quickly.

"What do you mean he's not there? You left him there when you came here didn't you?"

"I sent him away."

"You fool! Do you know what you've done? He could be anywhere by now. You know how he reacts to rejection!"

"Shit! Okay, we have to find him. Where would he go?"

--

There is a muggle man standing in front of me, a look of concern on his face.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'll be fine thank you." I dry my eyes, hoping he doesn't notice.

"You know, this isn't the best part of town. It can be dangerous for someone who doesn't know their way around. Why don't I give you a ride home?"

"It's alright I have a ride home."

"Somebody sitting on a bench crying doesn't normally have a ride. It's really no big deal. I'm just parked right over there."

"I said it's fine." I insist, starting to panic a little bit.

"Let me rephrase that." He says, pulling something out from behind his back. "Come with me now, and you won't get hurt. At least, not with this. I can't promise anything about later when I'm--"

"Put it down!" I look to see Tom holding a gun, then noticing the man looking behind me, where I find my father holding one too.

"It's two against one boy. I'd suggest you put your weapon down."

The man looks between the two, Tom steps closer slowly. The man hesitates, then runs for it. Tom shoots, only it's not a shot, it's a spell that knocks the guy out. When he rushes towards me, I prepare to be hit, but instead I'm wrapped in a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I'm such an idiot. Are you alright? Did he hurt you at all?"

"No," I breathe, resting my head against him in relief. "No, I'm fine now. Thank you. Though I could have handled it myself."

"You hate violence."

"Yes, but I do know how to defend myself," I argue, pulling away.

As he is about to retort, my father interrupts.

"I am happy that the two of you are back to bickering like an old married couple, but we really should be going now."

We find a place to apparate, then Tom let's me celebrate his birthday with him.

--

While looking for a familiar face on the train, a disillusionment spell on me in case the familiar face is unfriendly, I happen upon a strange sight. At least the sight is strange to Hogwarts standards. It became a little more normal after the time everyone spent together during break.

All of the students who stayed with us during the holiday, along with Dean and Seamus, are all in one expandable compartment, playing games and talking cheerfully about the rest of their holiday. They put up some privacy charms to keep out those we don't want in here, and let in our friends. When I walk in, I am greeted with excitement. Luna's greeting, however, draws some attention.

"Congratulations Hadrian! Everyone quiet down! Hadrian has an announcement!" She says loudly, intending to be heard over the roar of chatter that has once again started.

They quickly become silent, and I stand there for a moment. Then, with a large smile, I hold up my left hand and announce, "Tom proposed!"

The reaction is immediate, and excitement fills the air, everyone wanting a closer look at my ring. Unfortunately, the privacy charms weren't strong enough to keep passerby's from noticing the excitement of eight students sharing a compartment. The door slides open, and I am thankful that I still look like Harry Potter as three people enter the compartment.

"Draco? Blaise? What are you doing with a bunch of Gryffs? Especially Potter and Granger." Pansy asks with disgust.

Pansy, Theodore, and Daphne are then trapped in the compartment with us, wards put up by myself this time, and we all take turns filling them in. Of course we make them take an oath to be safe, as only Draco and Blaise can speak for how much we can trust them. In the end, the girls pull me to the far side of the compartment to discuss the wedding, even though I keep telling them it won't be for another year and a half.

When the train arrives, none of us anticipated for someone to be watching the compartment with suspicion, and therefore we get off the train without a worry as to who sees us all come out of the same compartment.

The feast is filled with excited chatter about what everyone did over the holidays, but Ron won't talk to any of us, which is weird. He normally at least tries to seem interested. He likes being the center of attention too much not to.

The owl that swoops down to drop a note in front of me isn't all that surprising. Neither is Dumbledore's neat scrawl on it asking me to meet him in his office after dinner.

--

"You wanted to see me sir?"

"Yes my boy. It's about the train ride. I heard that you were seen exiting a compartment with some of your friends, but also, a group of Slytherins. Specifically Mr. Malfoy and his friends. Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Nott both have parents that the order has confirmed as Death Eaters, and the parents of the other three are highly suspected to be Death Eaters. Why would you and your friends be associating with them? They are the enemy."

Good thing I planned for this. I feign shame, and start playing with my fingers like a nervous tick.

"We didn't do a great job of hiding it as we left, did we? Who saw us? It was Ron, wasn't it? There was a reason we didn't say anything to him yet."

"Say anything about what?"

"Towards the end of the summer, I received a letter from Malfoy. He was asking for help. His family is expecting him to take the mark, but he doesn't want to. He doesn't trust you either though. I knew there would be a point where I needed to come to you, but I wanted to make sure everything was under control first."

"That was very dangerous my boy. What if it had been a trap? You could have played right into Voldemort's hands. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that they aren't their parents. They deserve to choose their own path."

"But Harry-"

"But nothing! The others will back me up on this. It's the right thing to do Professor, and I trust them. All I'm asking is that you trust me. Please."

"Very well. I would like you to set up a meeting with me and your new Slytherin friends. That way we can discuss where everything sits."

"Of course. Don't be surprised when they refuse to come unless I am present though."

I get up and leave the office with a satisfied smile.

--

The Boy-Who-Lived Abused?!

By Rita Skeeter

You read correctly dear readers, Harry James Potter, savior of the wizarding world, did not grow up spoiled like we all believed. In fact, my informant says that Mr. Potter didn't even know magic existed until his Hogwarts letter came. And this is not the worst of it.

After his parents death, Mr. Potter was sent to live with his magic hating muggle aunt and uncle. He suffered far more than any child should. From neglect, to abuse, and full on slavery-

I throw the paper down, and pick at my food, not really in the mood to eat anything. Two days ago, I had an anonymous interview with Rita Skeeter. It was time to start ruining Dumbledore's reputation, and in doing so, I told Skeeter things I wish nobody knew about me.

Nobody else knew about the interview. Not even Tom. I knew they would try to talk me out of it, and, as much as it hurts, this is necessary. I didn't finish reading it, but I know she went into detail about my abuse, neglect, and "slavery" as Skeeter so kindly put it. I also heavily hinted at the fact that Dumbledore is my magical guardian, and that he never checked on me. He's probably lost some of the blind faith that people gladly give him.

Eventually, the stares and whispers become too much, and I leave. Of course, as soon as I stand up, the hall falls quiet, everyone wanting to know what I'm going to do. Screw them and their need for gossip anyway.

I arrive in my father's office, and floo to the Haven. Tom is standing there as if he was expecting me to tumble into his arms. He must have seen the paper already. Without a word, he carries me up to our room, and lays down with me quietly sobbing into his chest. He soothes my hair, and rubs my back, letting me calm down before speaking.

"I'll find whoever told her, Kitten. I'll find them and punish them for doing this to you."

"Tom, it was me."

"What?"

"I'm the one who told her. I knew you would be against it, all of you would have, so I didn't tell anyone. I knew it would be hard for me once everyone found out, but I didn't think it would be this bad."

"Why? What could possibly be worth this?"

"This is only the beginning. I had to reveal something that I would otherwise never let the public know. It's to keep suspicion off of me. The goal is to ruin Dumbledore's reputation a little bit at a time. He'll lose support, and you can start to regain a positive role in the community. If you make your true goals clear to the public, they might start to realize that they are looking up to the wrong man. Eventually, when the time is right, I will reveal to Skeeter that I am the one who has been feeding her this information, letting her say as much in her next article, and I will announce to her, and in turn, the wizarding world, that I support the dark side. Of course, those are details you and I will go over together."

"You've been planning this then."

"I have. I'm sorry I couldn't say anything sooner."

"I understand." he doesn't say anything for a moment. "Have you eaten?"

"Not much. I left after I read the beginning of the paper."

"Well let's get you some food then. I assume you won't be returning for the days classes. I have a meeting with the vampires today, but everything else can be rescheduled."

"You don't have to do that."

"I know that, but how often are we going to be able to spend the day together now that you're back at the school?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

--

"Harry! Why weren't you in classes? I had to suffer through potions class without you."

I walk past him, further into the common room, scanning it, then sit with my actual friends on a couch.

"Harry are you alright?" Seamus asks.

"I could be better."

"Don't worry Harry, we'll figure out who leaked that information. The others want to help too." Hermione assures."

"Thanks, but I already know who did." I glare at Ron.

"What? You think I did it?! What about those slimy snakes you seem to think are so great?" I stand and move in front of him, frustrated over how much taller he is than me.

"They have names, and I haven't told any of them about that. The only ones who knew where you, Hermione, and Luna. The twins knew to some extent, but not that much. Besides, you've made it very clear how you feel about the whole Slytherin thing. I bet you thought this would be the perfect way to get them out of the way."

"I did not!"

"Why should I believe you? You always get mad at me for the stupidest things, and ignore me like a child who doesn't get his way!"

"I do not!"

"Yes you do! You've crossed the line on this one. That was personal information that I only told the people I trusted most."

"I told you I didn't do anything!"

He shoves me to the ground, and on instinct, I back away and curl up into a ball. Ron moves over me, punching me several times, and the next thing I know, I'm eight years old again, Uncle Vernon standing over me, face purple with rage. He knocks me down so I land right on the broken glass on the floor. He's punching me over and over, kicking me when he gets tired of it. Then, his beefy hands wrap around my neck, suffocating me.

--Hermione's POV--

Neville and Dean pulled Ron away from Hadrian, and Seamus and I cleared the room of onlookers. Someone must have gone for McGonagall, because she's kneeling in front of Hadrian's shaking form, trying to calm him, but every time she touches him, it only makes things worse.

"We need to get Madam Pomfrey. She'll be better equipped to handle this." She suggests.

"No, Professor Snape. He was able to calm him when this happened last time. I saw him do it." I counter.

"I suppose Professor Snape would have experience dealing with this sort of thing. Ms. Granger, please go get him quickly. You can floo his office from mine."

"Yes ma'am."

I hurry to her office and call his office. He takes a moment to answer, but I don't give him the chance to say anything.

"Professor Snape you must come through quickly! Ron's set him off into a panic attack, and we don't know how to calm him!"

"Move aside."

He stalks into the room, then in the direction of the common room. When we enter he whispers to McGonagall, then picks up a struggling Hadrian. She leads him to the empty Head Boy's room in the dormitory.

--Minerva's POV--

I watch as the potions master sweeps into the room with worry on his face. As far as I was aware, the man had a deep hatred of Mr. Potter, stemming from the hatred of James Potter.

"Is there somewhere private we can go? Somewhere without any portraits?"

I nod, and he picks the boy up despite his struggles. I lead him into the Gryffindor Head Boy's room that is unoccupied this year, and he sits in a chair, rocking the boy back and forth. The change in attitude he has with the boy even between the common room and now is incredible. He's caring and getntle with him, and I start to question if he truly hates Harry as much as he claims.

"Hadrian, it's me. He's not here son. He can't hurt you anymore remember? You're safe. Shhh."

He seems to know exactly what's happening, though I suppose that has to do with the fact that he read the newspaper. But did he call him Hadrian? Perhaps he does this with his son, and just mixed the names up.

Harry stops struggling, instead clinging to Severus like a child. When he finally calms down enough to be aware of his surroundings, he looks up at Severus. Instead of the panic and embarrassment I'm expecting to see on his face, he looks relieved and confused.

"Dad?"

"I'm here. Are you alright?"

"I-I think so. Where are we?"

He looks around, and finally catches sight of me, freezing on the spot when he sees me.

"Professor McGonagall!"

In the blink of an eye, he is standing away from Severus, now showing the panic I expected from earlier. I think I finally understand at least some of what's going on.

"Mr. Potter. I think I finally understand why you refused to reveal your location sooner. You've been staying with Severus, haven't you? Pretending to be his son?"

"You don't have to tell her anything you don't want to, but I trust her." Severus tells him.

They must have truly bonded this summer too have gotten this level of trust between them. I can't help but feel happy to hear my former student claim me as a trusted friend. He always seems so angry at everyone, and nobody can tell what he's thinking. Even in school he was fairly closed off. Perhaps it has to do with Mr. Potter staying with him this summer, or maybe his not so secret relationship with Remus, but the man has seemed a lot happier this year than I have ever seen him before.

"You can tell her everything. I think I'm going to skip dinner and go to bed."

"Nice try. If you do not wish to eat in the Great Hall after this morning, I won't force you. But I will be sending an elf up with your dinner. You're supposed to be eating three meals a day with snacks."

"But I'm tired, and one missed meal won't kill me."

"Perhaps not, but Mrs. Malfoy would not be so forgiving."

He winces, then sags his shoulders in defeat.

"Fine. Before I forget, Tom wants to talk to you tonight after dinner. He's having a meeting with the vampires right now, so that's where he's planning to be tonight."

"I had a feeling that's where you ran off to. Does he have any idea who gave her that information?"

"Oh that was me. I hate that everyone knows about that part of my life, but it's necessary for some of my plans. That's probably what Tom wants to talk about."

"Alright. Are you going up now?"

"Yes. Goodnight Dad. Goodnight Professor."

"Goodnight." Severus responds.

All I can do is watch as Harry Potter leaves the room after all but admitting to be working with the Dark Lord.

"Perhaps we should have this discussion in my quarters after dinner. You may need some fire whiskey to get you through the conversation."

--Hadrian's POV--

I think Professor McGonagall is happy to be on the inside of things. At first, she seemed a bit conflicted, but after a few days, she started trying to catch my eye, sending me a wink or a nod. She even pulled me aside at one point to tell me she supports me, and I can talk to her about anything. She kind of reminds me of a lonely old lady who loves to be included in things. I've begun to think of her as more of a grandmother than a professor.

Neville, Luna and I have begun to go to her office after classes on Friday's to have tea with her and talk. Anytime we have a question about our studies, she jumps at the chance to help us, and we will sometimes ask things we already know just to see her face light up. It's nice to see this side of her instead of the strict but caring professor we normally see.

These last three weeks have had a new article in the paper every Monday just like the week before. The second article was about Dumbledore illegally sealing the wills of several people who died in the first war and naming himself magical guardian. The third article was just wild speculations of several well known light members. Not all are simple speculation of course. The fourth strongly suggests that the light side had something to do with Sirius's escape from Azkaban, and that they had harbored him until his death in the Ministry.

Dumbledore is losing support quickly, and we are one step closer to winning this war.