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Chapter 9

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Harry sat quietly in class evading as usual the Potion Master's eyes. When spoken to he would answer, but otherwise nothing more had happened between them. Ever since detentions had been an option for the teachers to get a hold of him again and maybe have a talk about his current behavior, they had been pretty generous giving them to him. Yet that only lasted short, once they realized that no matter how far they pushed, he would resist their questioning or simply evade it until his time was over and he was allowed to leave. The only one who had surprisingly not searched this obvious vain intent to get through to him was Snape. The Gryffindor appreciated it to some point, but he also longed to have the other close. It was confusing. He didn't know whether he was starting to sense a connection between them because of the curse, or maybe due to Harry's own feelings.

The memory of the two of them together was somewhat fuzzed up in his head now, clear was only that he had enjoyed it.

Snape moved by to check on Draco's and his work. The man took a quick glance inside before nodding at Draco and proceeding on. Harry relaxed back in his seat, his body feeling somewhat sedated by the need to get a hold of the older man as soon as possible. His mind, though, was pretty much kicking him not to do anything that would not only make him look like a fool, but would let his cousin realize in a matter of seconds what Harry was desperately trying to refrain from telling him. Draco was no idiot as not to realize that the curse was being pushed further on the more time he spent with Snape. Once the Slytherin would know this, he would drag Harry to the other end of the world and lock him up where neither Dumbledore nor Lucius could ever find him. Conflict to this was the fact that Harry somehow needed this closeness even if it was only during class and was harming him at the same time.

It didn't matter to him if he talked to Snape or not, it wasn't really necessary for him to know what the other thought of him, he did have a pretty good idea on that. Which made the attraction to the other even more intense, because for a second time in his life, he had come across someone who told him the blank truth in his face not meaning true harm or good to him. In Snape's eyes he might be the insufferable Gryffindor, but that also stated that he was not special, just Harry. Deep inside Harry knew that Severus Snape no longer saw him as the image of his father, realizations probably coming from the moment he had felt those lips respond to his. Had Snape seen him as James, Harry would never had the chance to get even that close to the Potion Master.

Curiosity… Yes, it triggered Harry's curiosity to know whether his assumptions were right, but he could wait, he was happy with jus being another one in the crowed for Snape. For now that would be enough, he had other things of more importance to worry about.

He let his eyes wander over his right arm as he felt the pain of the snake moving under the skin. Closing his fist in order to control himself, Harry tried to focus his mind back on class, but to no avail. He lowered his eyelids sensing a presence invading him from within. Harry struggled for a moment to keep the magic from taking over, then the presence left and he was washed over by a soothing sensation of victory, even if it was just for now.

Somehow the idea of reentering the Chamber of Secrets was getting less and less friendlier to him… yet his variety of choices for a solution to this were narrowing down on him.

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"Draco…"

The blond took the hood of and sat on the window seat by the fireplace. "Yeah?"

Tom Riddle turned to him looking pale and exhausted. "How's Potter doing?"

A sigh escaped the younger one's lips. "Not good, he's still is having those visions or hallucinations, whatever they are. His magic is almost down to nothing and lately he has started to complain about feeling nauseated from time to time. Which I find rather strange since his appetite seems to have doubled." His pale eyes locked with the dark one of the other's. "I have come to think that maybe he's eating and making himself throw up again, but I haven't been able to confirm this."

Tom nodded settling down on the carpet on the ground as his snake curled up next to him. "I see…"

Draco narrowed his eyes watching the other turn his eyes to the flickering flames in the fireplace. In moments like this he was sure that Riddle was not telling him something important. And to top it he was almost sure it was the same thing Harry was obviously hiding from him.

"Have you tried removing the spell again?" Tom finally spoke after a while.

Draco shook his head.

Tom sighed. "You might start getting an answer to some of your questions if you do so…" He paused obviously thinking whether it would be wise to confine more into the younger Slytherin. "I have a suspicion on what is going on with Potter…"

The blond raised an eyebrow curiously. "Mind sharing with me?"

A hiss from the snake turned Tom's attention from Draco. It lifted its upper body up to be in eye contact. Draco watched the two talk in Parsel for a while and it almost appeared as though the snake was by the end of the conversation chuckling. Latter didn't seem to have gone well with the 'Dark Lord' because he glared menacingly at her, but she snuggled back into something similar to a knot on the ground.

Draco stood up and walked over to them sitting down in front of the Tom Riddle. "Listen, Riddle, I'm helping you out of my own will, but if you don't confine in me, we might as well stop our truce here. I don't like being played about, for that I have my father already. You either tell me, or you can forget my help further in this matter." His eyes told that he was not joking. He was serious when it came to his cousin. He had no idea where this sudden need to protect the other from harm came from, but it didn't matter at the moment either. "Well?"

Red eye closed from him and Tom let out a deep breath. "Fine." He said. "I'll tell you what little I can…"

Draco turned his head to the side waiting.

"What do you know about the bonding of those of our family?"

A little startled but not completely take by surprise Draco replied out of reflex. "Those of our Blood will be one, and only one will share with us. To protect and conserve the line of our Blood… Such is our goal… My life so pure, in exchange of power so clean that others will hide in thy shadow…Thus one for me and one for you; this bond ascertains our hearts and bodies to loyalty and faith in one… Pure be our Blood; pure be our Children, pure those who will follow our word… Thus is our path… Thus will bring us peace and conquer our trust in destiny…"

Tom watched as Draco's expression changed into one of confusion. "You recited those words pretty well…"

"Ye…Yes… I did…" He passed a hand over his face. "I didn't think I still knew that… I mean, my mother taught it to me when I was little. She always said that those words spoke of one that would be with me to bond in the future. She practically drilled them into me…"

Tom smiled weakly. "It was certainly easier than having it hammer your conscience and controlling your body to search for this 'One' that Salazar Slytherin speaks off."

"Are you saying that Harry's behavior is due to the curse and that it searches for one to bond with him and continue the line of Slytherin?"

"More or less…" Tom replied tiredly. "Which is why it is necessary for you to lift the spell and see what its effect have been so far on Potter's real body. Then you can measure the damage or good it has done to him…" he smiled sadly. "Her…" he corrected himself.

Draco paled. "Merlin! …"

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Harry was waiting for Hermione to get out of class while he sat by the stairs that lead to the fourth floor, while letting the fact that there was someone sitting next to him that shouldn't be there pass calmly through his mind. It was a woman with dark hair and her features were warm and gentle. She had the mother type features he knew from Ron's mom, but there was sadness in them, which Harry knew far too well. He remembered seeing it often enough in his own face when he glanced lately at his reflection.

"Free as the wind in this broken land." She said slowly extending her hands in front of her as though she was reaching out for something. "Thou shall remember that, for dark is the age in which we live. Dark and unfaithful to sons and daughters of magic blood as ours. For that reason, thou and I will always be hunted and they will live in quite peace made by our efforts." She turned to him. "Do not anger thyself over a mere Gryffindor, Salazar. Thou must prove to be the stronger in the end for both of us. Now that thou will leave and I will remain here unable to join you on your journey, I will ask of thee to remember my words. I am ill and the sickness is growing within. Thou cannot help me anymore, but if thee still insists to leave in search of a cure, then I will wait as long as I am allowed." She leaned forward to Harry resting her head against his shoulder. "I care for thee, Salazar. Care greatly and it pains me to see the suffering in thy eyes."

She reached out with her hand turning slightly his face to look at her. The touch was gently but Harry could feel no warmth, no reality in it. I was nothing but an illusion that his mind was replaying for him. An echo of a memory that was not his own, the same echo, which forced the small name out of Harry's lips. "Rowena…" And even though Harry was aware that it was not him replying, he could feel the aching in his chest as she vanished again from his sight and he found himself alone once more.

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"Are you listening to me, Harry?" Draco glanced annoyed at his cousin looking out of the window into the dark night. "Riddle said we should consider lifting the spell to see what's going on with you." There was no reply. "Harry?" Draco got up from his seat. "Hey, me talking to Harry Potter!" He waved his hand in front of the other's face. "Hello, someone there?"

Harry blinked and turned to him rolling his eyes. "What is it, Godric? I'm in no mood to argue with you!"

Draco blinked a few times. "Godric?… I'm Draco." He laid his hands on Harry's shoulder as the green eyes focused on him and started to shine in recognition. Harry shook his head trying to clear his thought and reached out with a trembling hand for Draco.

"Draco…" his cousin said weakly. "It's getting worse…".

The blond sighed. "Try to focus on something that is unique to you and not of Slytherin." He tried to advice but then suddenly Harry turned to the side throwing up various times. Draco held him, gently making circling motions with his hand over Harry's back.

The sickening feeling was not leaving and all Harry could do was cry for his own imprisonment by the curse that was getting worse with each day that passed. The skin on his arm was parting and the snake was already trying to free itself from his flesh, it tore painfully at it as it slithered for freedom. Harry yelped as the pain mixed with nausea that was already plaguing him. He felt Draco reach out to his now bleeding arm pushing the fabric of his sweater up his arm.

After Draco had found out a few weeks earlier about this, he had been rather angry with him for keeping it a secret, but now his cousin was gentle. His fingers moved carefully to the wriggling snake trying to escape and pinned it down. Harry let out a scream as the pain wallowed through his veins and increased while the snake tried desperately to gain once again movement.

Draco's eye stared pitiful at him when Harry leaned his head back and let the tears roll down his cheeks. The thought that someone might have heard him screaming in the middle of the night was far away from his mind right now. He wanted to sink into darkness and let sleep elude the conscious pain.

"Draco…" he whispered as he tried to regain some control over himself, but to no success. It was getting harder and harder with the blond holding onto his bleeding arm and the snake underneath struggling against the Slytherin's grip.

The blond remained quiet focusing solemnly on holding the creature back. The few times that this had happened, it had been only a few minutes before the snake would succumb into rest giving Harry some moments to gather back his strength and regain some control to command it in Parsel to remain as it was. But for that Harry needed to be in a good state of mind and wield what little power he still had onto his arm and seal the snake's moves for a while.

"Can't…" Harry started to pant as his eyes were losing focus little by little. "Tired…"

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Considering all public opinions on him, one would really wonder why Severus Snape let himself be tugged out of bed in the middle of the night by one of his students, less alone by Draco Malfoy so that Severus took care of none other than Harry Potter. A second thought would then rise in ones mind as to why said man was treating carefully his hated students in his own private rooms refusing the thought of letting anyone else take care of the aforementioned boy bother his work. Indeed the image of young Malfoy hovering nervously around his Head of House's rooms, following the older man's instructions to bring him things, and the pale unconscious body of the Gryffindor student in the older man's bed, would make quite an impression on a mere by-passer.

Observing his finished work, Severus passed carefully a hand over the bandaged arm of young Potter reassuring himself that he had managed to stop the bleeding. His eyes wandered to the child's face. The boy had gone from unconscious into sleeping and was currently turned to him, his breathing coming in short gasped which the Potion Master deduced to some nightmares.

Now, if one were anyone but Draco at the moment and not worrying about his cousin's health, one would probably get the chance to see a very rare sight. Severus' eyes marveling they little fellow on his bed. Yes, he was allowing himself a moment of weakness; he could always convince himself later that it was due to the shocking scene of Malfoy bringing a bleeding Potter into his quarters. After all that was not a sight that one would get everyday either. And so, Severus was just able to hold himself back from reaching for the dark haired boy's sweating face as he saw his student reach out for Potter and kneel next to his bed. Forcing himself to regain control over himself, Severus got up from where he sat on his bed and noted Draco to follow him. Now would be the perfect opportunity to gain some answers to questions that had been plaguing him over the last weeks, maybe months. Yes, answers he would get, especially with Draco's obvious scattered thoughts. It would be easier to slither cunningly around the child to get what Severus wanted. And so he closed the door to his bedroom and instructed young Malfoy to sit by the fireplace, allowing himself to remain in the dark from where he could read and inspect every feature of the other while remaining unseen and in safety to his own betraying emotions flickering just underneath a melting surface of memories.

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Waking up with the sensation that something was amiss was no news o him. Waking up and seeing that the bed next to his was empty was also something he had gotten used to over the last years. But the fact that there was an a black owl gawking back at him as though it was not pleased with his inattentiveness on his friend's whereabouts was a sight Ron was definitely not used to see in the middle of the night. Throwing his sheets aside Ron sat up and glanced curiously at the strange bird. It leaned his head to the side and turned to pick at Harry's pillow as tough it was searching for some treat. Ron got slowly up and moved towards it.

"Hey there." He said noticing the animal that he was approaching so that it wouldn't cry out in alarm and wake the others up. "Harry's not here, but you can leave whatever you want with me." He wasn't sure whether the bird would actually listen to him, a stranger.

The owl turned its brilliant eyes towards him before hopping to the edge of the bed and stretching its leg for Ron to unfold the note attached to it. Surprised by the animal's trusting attitude Ron reached out and patted the owl before undoing the little string holding the note. Laying the note on the bedside table he reached for his clothing and searched for some treats he usually had for Pig there.

"Here little fellow." He extended his hand and the owl picked it up before stretching its wings and leaving the room through the open window. Ron watched it leave before letting his eyes wander curiously towards the note. Should he read it or wait for Harry? Maybe it was something important or maybe it was a message from Sirius. He and Professor Lupin had not written in quite a while and he was suspecting that something had happened to them. Which would explain Harry's strange behavior lately. His friend was worried for the only family he had left. It was reasonable, so Ron had not dared to push the matter too much, especially after the traumatic experience he must have suffered at Voldemort's hands.

So not thinking further about it Ron rolled the paper open and let his eye wander over the nicely written letters.

Harry,

How have you been? Are you cooping well with your problem? I was told that there had been some unwelcome and not very good results in your researches. I am entirely sorry and I wish I could aid you but as I am now, I am unable to let my Master suspect of my behavior anymore. But please believe that if I can find or remember anything of help to you, I will let you know as soon as I can.

On another matter, I have managed to find out some information on your pet. It appears that our common pain in the ass, Luma, has had his hands in this. I am sure though, that your precious four-legged friend is save and therefore you must not worry. Your current state is already enough trouble to your mind and you should try to not let other matters concern you. Bui if it makes you feel better, I will see that some of the scam I can afford to lose, sets him free again.

Harry, I was told that you were seeking to go below… again? All I can say is that you're completely out of your mind. Then again, knowing your luck, you might actually succeed on something others before you have failed. But before you do, see that the spell is taken off at least once and see for yourself the full changes it brought so far upon you.

I wish you good luck on your exams.

Tom

P.S: Have you told D. yet about S.S.?

Ron re-read the letter a few more times confused? Who was Tom and what four-legged pet was he referring to? Harry had problems in a research? Why didn't he know about this? What was going on?

He closed the note and took a deep breath. More importantly now, where was Harry?

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I'm drowning in my own being. The fears surfaces and consumes me with every passing hour. I can see that my struggle is already useless, for those dark eyes yet so familiar in color to my own are shining with life that mine are already lacking. The chains have raised me from the ground and hold me tied up in midair while the snakes hiss underneath my feet waiting to devour my soul.

Strong and proudly he is as I watch his features while he glances at me with cold eyes. Eyes that haunt my very being, because they resemble that other man's in so many ways... His features are young as well, unlike the pictures I had seen of him. This man, who reaches out to caress my check with his warmth, is in control and he will no longer allow me to awake from this eternal darkness.

His magic waves around me, comforting and swallowing my thoughts, willing me to give in to his desires and wishes. And I can do no more than comply.

I feel the painful sensation of my skin changing as a spell is lifted from me. I can only watch his eyes as he approaches me and I realize that I am completely at his mercy. His hands wandering over this strange body that I cannot recognize as my own but my mind somehow senses that is far better than my male appearance. The bright eyes examine me, his gaze stripping me naked and I feel ashamed by my own incompetence to fight him off.

I want to shout, but fear ties my courage into an abyss in which I cannot reach, and so I remain quiet.

His hand comes to my face and he forces me to look through my tears at him.

"For now, I will let you remain, for this burden on you might kill us." He reaches with his other hand to my stomach and looses the chains. The clipping sounds as they fall to the ground, while I remain still in midair, make me realize that he is holding me gently. Almost carrying…

I stare scared at him, not comprehending my freedom.

"For now… I will only protect… only until the time is over."

His body pushes me slowly to the ground where he lowers down on me and remains on top touching my arms as I recall another man doing. His fingertips ghosting over the flesh making me gasp out from the sensation they cause me to feel.

I don't understand… I don't want him close… I don't want to be trapped…

Scared…

I cry…

Alone in this empty embrace…

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TBC in chapter 10

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