Chapter Two: Coward

Warning(s): minor language and violence/child abuse

'So you're going to stay with your friends for the rest of the summer?' Dark asked later that day. Harry nodded and Dark chuckled. 'Can I see them? Just picture them in your mind…ah! You're getting the hang of it already. Good. So Ron and Hermione. Are you going to tell them about me?'

'Should I?' Harry asked, lying down on his bed.

'It's isn't against any rules. Dai chose not to tell anyone and you, well, if you want to tell the ones you trust then by all means…. i can even transform for them if you want.' Harry hmmed.

'What's it like? The only time you transformed was last night, and I fell asleep.'

'Want me to? I can use your magic to conjure a mirror and you can see.'

'The magic you use, will it be detected?' Dark mentally shook his head and Harry nodded. 'Okay then, go ahead.' Harry was surprised as Dark slowly began the transformation. There was no pain, for one, and Harry actually enjoyed the process.

'Done, now look.' Harry "Opened" his eyes and gasped. He could see, although it looked like he was watching TV! Just like the first transformation but now he could see himself, well he could see Dark, move. 'Weird huh? It's how I see through your eyes. It doesn't bother either of us to do this, heck, I can't even feel you watching.'

'It's amazing. Better transform again before someone comes down.' Harry warned, knowing that his uncle was in a foul mood and would love to pick on Harry to lighten it.

'Right.' Harry kept his eyes open this time and watched in the mirror as his body went slowly from Dark's, to his own with a few differences.

'I grew!'

'A few inches, yeah. And your hair has a purple tint to it. Dai's body never changed like this…I wonder why yours is?'

'I must be special.' Harry was jerked out of his thoughts by a solid fist to his cheek. "OUCH!" He cried out, falling sideways.

"What in the blazes were you doing you ass, staring at nothing!?" Harry looked up to see his Uncle, purple faced and twitching. "You worthless little freak, we should have just left you on the streets!" Harry ducked his head and curled into a ball as Vernon began to kick and hit him. "You worthless little shit!"

'Hang in the Harry.' Dark said in his mind.

'Don't transform…we can't let him know…!' Dark nodded and Harry breathed in relief as his Uncle stalked away, finished with the beating for now. 'We can't let him know of you Dark.'

'I understand.' Harry sighed and rolled onto his back. 'There's an owl at the window.'

"Hedwig!" Harry murmured. Hedwig squeezed in through the tiny basement window and dropped a letter by Harry's hand. Harry picked it up and managed to open it.

Dear Harry,

Dumbledore is sending someone to pick you up tomorrow afternoon. We finally managed to convince him to let you come over. Hope you're okay mate, and see you tomorrow!

'Ron. Good, I can tell him first, then Hermione.' Harry said, leaving the letter on the bed and patting Hedwig.

'Is it smart to leave it there?' Dark asked.

'Vernon will see it, and it will keep him at bay.' Harry said. Sure enough, when Vernon returned he left almost immediately upon seeing the letter. Dark laughed outright in Harry's head.

'He's a blubbering coward.'

'Tell me about it.'

'Who's Dumbledore by the way?' Harry supplied Dark with an image. 'Kinda old….' Harry giggled.

'He's the Headmaster of my school. If Ron and Hermione react well enough to you, I'll tell him. Actually, I'll tell him either way. He needs to know so he can prepare for us. He might want to question you as well.'

'Fine by me.' Dark said. Harry smiled. 'Did Voldie get his body back?' Harry frowned and closed his eyes. Instead of telling Dark what he should know, he let Dark see. Harry did all he could to keep from crying as he played the memory for Dark.

Cedric and him grabbing the Cup, the cold voice shouting "Kill the spare!", Harry being tied to the tombstone and being cut by Wormtail's knife, Wormtail sacrificing his hand, Voldemort rising from the bubbling potion, him and Voldemort dueling, their wands connecting, his parents and Cedric floating from the wands, him grabbing Cedric and portkeying back to the school.

'Holy shit….' Harry snorted and jumped when he felt ghost-like hands touching him gently. 'It's okay, it's me. I can occasionally do this to comfort you.' Dark said gently. Harry relaxed into the caress and sniffled. 'I guess it's my turn.' Harry nodded. 'It's not your fault by the way.'

'I know.'

'Now, I've never gone through quite that much but I can tell you that there is another like me. He goes by the name of Krad, and he is my total opposite. We fought nearly every time we met up.'

'Krad….interesting.' Dark chuckled.

'Sleep Harry, get some rest for tomorrow. I'll tell you more about Krad some other time.' Harry nodded and drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

TBC