Anything in italicsare thoughts. Anything that is bold italics are telepathic conversations. Anything in '…' is Parseltongue. Anything in 'bold italics' is spoken in Italian. Anything in "bold" is spoken in French. Anything in "italics" is spoken in Bulgarian. It will be this way throughout the rest of the story.

(Present Day: September 1, 1996 Harry's POV)

I sat across from Ron and Hermione as I looked out the window. My thoughts wandered through the events of the summer. I was still shocked but thankful that I was granted a little more freedom than previous years at the Dursley's. I used it to review all the previous years' texts plus more with hidden trips to Diagon Alley with Dobby's help.

I am tired of people trying to run my life. I was exhausted of trying to live up to everyone's expectations of me. No one seemed to truly care about me or listen to what I truly think and feel. I am angry that people thought that just because I seemed to forgive easily that they could do things and think it was okay; like another summer with no communications from my friends at Dumbledore's request. I began to doubt if my friends were truly my friends. I found it odd that I got letters from the twins through Dobby and even met them once in the Alley. Yet, my best mates insisted that I needed to have a summer to mourn in solitude.

It was the twins who encouraged me to get a snake if I really liked them and wanted to truly work on my Parseltongue. I bought one during our secret meeting as I encouraged them to aim for their store and apologized that I could not have given more than my Triwizard winnings. The snake seems to send people into fear and worry. Even, Dumbledore was getting worried which caused me and the twins to snicker. Everyone knows Voldemort had a pet snake. It is my life and money. If I want a snake; then I will have one. I grinned to myself

I felt someone nudge me. "Are you even listening, Harry?" Ron asked.

"Sorry mate, I must have zoned out for a moment. What were you saying?" I placed a fake grin on my face.

"I said when are you going to ask Ginny out? You know she is just waiting for you to ask, and so she is trying to make you jealous by going out with Dean. Please relieve me of my misery. She has been obsessed with you for years and is making all of us miserable." Ron pleaded.

I wanted to growl but I kept my voice firm and calm as I shrugged my shoulders. "Dean can have her. I am not interested. She is like a sister to me and nothing more. Besides, she is only obsessed with an image. She isn't truly in love with me."

"Are you still hung up on Cho?"

"No, I am not. I think I will go for a walk." I walked out of the compartment. I took several calming breaths as the door closed. How could I tell my best friends that I was attracted to none other than Draco Malfoy? I even laughed at the turn of events during the summer when I realized it. I knew nothing would come of it. I also knew that until Voldemort was dead that I could not be with any one because getting involved with someone would make them a target for the vile bastard.

I wished that I had not told Dobby to keep my snake until I got to the castle. I wanted to see the surprised looks on everyone's faces; especially the Slytherins. I could just imagine their reactions when I enter the Great Hall with it at the feast tonight.

I heard voices up ahead and instantly recognized Draco's. I cast the Notice Me Not charm and silenced my movement and wished I thought to grab my cloak.

"I am serious, Blaise. The mark would not take. It pissed off both my father and the Dark Lord. I was already stunned and tied down. You know the mark is a type of soul binding." I could not believe what I was hearing. Draco did not want the mark; and they tried to force it on him.

"You know what that means." Blaise spoke.

"It means nothing." Draco snarled.

"You need to stop denying what happened two years ago. I know you noticed the changes and differences as I have. We need to talk to Snape." Blaise insisted.

"NO! I will not believe it! I refuse! We CANNOT be bound to Saint Potter!" Draco yelled. It took all my strength to remain still. I did not know what it meant to be bound. I mean Dobby is bound to me; so, it would have to be different.

Blaise laughed. "You keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. I know differently. You may still taunt him; however, you do not have that hate you used to have in it. I have seen the way you glance at him when you think that I am not looking. It makes me jealous sometimes; however, it is hard to remain jealous when I feel the same."

I heard someone move to the door to open the compartment, so I quickly headed back to my compartment. I had a lot of thinking to do. I wished I knew what they meant. I did not want to be bound to anyone. I wanted to make my own decisions and have my own feelings. I wondered what Zabini meant at the end. I wondered how much of what I was feeling was truly mine, or the bond if I am truly bound to them. I sat down to think without giving Ron or Hermione a single glance.

Once I reached the castle, I went straight to the dorms. I had Dobby bring my trunk and snake directly to the school. I allowed the snake to wrap around my waist as I walked to the Great Hall. I made sure that I was one of the last people to arrive before the first years entered. I grinned widely at the shocked faces of everyone in the hall. I remained smiling though I truly wanted to laugh.

I took my seat at the Gryffindor table, and I looked to Ginny before I said, "Your ploy will not work. I have only seen you as an annoying little sister and nothing more. I never will. So, get over it and stop trying. There will never be a you and I." I watched sadness fill her eyes. I did not feel guilty. The truth was the truth.

I noticed that there were fewer first years. I was not surprised with everyone knowing that Voldemort was back. I began to fill my plate with a little bit of food. I still had to adjust even though I spent the last two weeks at The Burrow. I knew that I did not starve as much with the extra freedom I had. However, my aunt and uncle made sure that when I was stuck in the house, I got very little food if any.

I knew people were staring at me. I truly did not care at that moment. The snake was my own little rebellion. I am a snake in the lion's den after all. Only, Dumbledore and I knew that I was supposed to be in Slytherin. To slam my point home, I glanced at Dumbledore and nodded while petting my snake.

Even though, I knew several people in the hall kept glancing at me, I knew that I did it deliberately, but I still had to fight the urge to go under the table. I took my time eating my favorite dessert when I began to feel angry. I was not sure why. Without saying a word, I rose to leave the hall. I glanced towards the Slytherin table and looked into angry eyes. I shrugged my shoulders and walked back to the dorm in silence.

(Draco POV)

"What is he playing at this time?" I snarled. I watched as the Golden Boy entered the hall with a large snake wrapped around him. I was angry and frustrated. I did not know what he thought that he would prove.

"I dunno. I was wondering what he was saying to the Weaslette. She and Ron did not look very happy about it." Blaise commented. He leaned closer to Draco. "We have to talk to Snape."

"I said no." Draco snarled. I wished that he would just let it go. I knew to talk about it made it real, and I would not be able to deny it.

"I do not think you will get a choice. Snape is glaring at you." Blaise stated.

"Just leave things alone before he thinks something is wrong."

"Something has been wrong for two years. You know it will get worse. How can we keep in the background? Someone will notice eventually. We do not know anything about him, and I am telling you something has been wrong with him for a while. I believe he is about to break."

I glared at Blaise. I knew what Blaise was talking about because I, too, started to pay closer attention to Harry after the incident. I remembered sending anonymous notes to him during the tournament and I remembered feeling his anxiousness, and how it would ease after each note. Harry's emotions always seemed to be all over the place but there was constantly sadness and anger.

The ending of the last two years were the worst. It was almost paralyzing because the quickness and fierceness of the emotions were staggering. It seemed to open me up to a whole new life. I grew up emotionless and was taught to live that way. I knew towards the end of last year that I was softening towards Harry. I was always drawn to the Golden Boy. I knew it was possibly something more; however, the rejection from first year cut me deeply. I was determined that I would NOT open myself for another rejection, especially from someone that I seemed to be permanently bonded to.

I was tired of being in the Great Hall. I was no longer in the mood for conversations and so I said good night and walked back to the dorm. I walked to my bed and flopped down on it. I heard parchment crinkle. I sat up and there was a note.

How about a truce?

I just stared at it. I knew who wrote it. I just wondered how it got there. I wondered how often he had been in the Slytherin dorms or the Common Room. I was wondering if the same thing was happening with Harry. I felt a small flicker of hope. I tried to push it down, but it would not die.

As I walked out of the Common Room, I passed Blaise and I told him that I wanted to take a walk alone. I claimed that I needed time to think. I found myself walking out of the castle, and I breathed in the cool night air.

I ambled through the woods completely lost in my thoughts until I heard people talking. "What the hell has gotten into you?"

"I have grownup. I do not feel like I should be gentle with anyone that will not take a hint. I have done something for myself; yet, no one can be happy for me! They can only criticize me. It is not my problem. It is yours and theirs. I will not bow down to someone's bloody ideal for me. I have done it for five years, already. I AM DONE! I am tired. If I want to have a snake and practice my Parseltongue; then I will. Everyone wants me to listen to them and do what they want and expect. YET, NO ONE WANTS TO LISTEN TO ME! NO ONE EVEN CARES TO LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT ME EXCEPT THE TWINS! NO ONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH!" I could only wonder if Blaise was right. I was wondering if this was the beginning of Potter breaking.

"Why are you being so dramatic, Harry. Ron only thought that you could have been more sensitive with Ginny. We understand what you have been through, remember, we have been with you through all of it." Hermione huffed. I could not help but roll my eyes. The girl always seemed to grate on my nerves.

I continued to hide behind the tree and listen. I watched Harry stand, and I shuddered when I saw murder in the boy's eyes. I was stunned by the look, and it sent a chill down my spine. I knew at this moment he would be able to rival the Dark Lord. I suddenly tensed under an onslaught of staggering emotions: sadness, disappointment, but over it all was a deep and fierce anger. "Maybe, you will listen this time. YOU HAVE NO idea about what I have been through. Now please leave me alone before I do or say something I might regret later." Harry said between clenched teeth and with a tight grip on his wand.

I felt the air stir. I felt an overwhelming amount of power. I knew it was not my own. Yet, I was getting dizzy and my chest felt heavy just from the feel of it flowing through the air and the bond. I slid down the tree and sat on the ground. I could not imagine carrying that much power.

"Harry, it is almost curfew. You should come in as well. It would not do well to get into trouble your first night back at school." Hermione admonished. I wanted to snap at the girl and ask if she was blind. I could see that he was teetering on the edge.

Harry laughed. "Please, the only one that treats me normally is Professor Snape, and you both know I have the means not to be seen if I don't want to be. Now, LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"Fine. Good night." She said in a huff. I watched the two leave with relief.

I took several deep breathes to will the dizziness away. I felt the power being pulled back into Harry. I heard the crunching of leaves before I turned to the right and watched Harry walk several feet behind me.

After a few minutes, I rose to follow him. I moved slowly and carefully while trying not to make a sound. I suddenly realized that Harry was not in front of me. I stopped to listen but heard no sounds. "So, you are still spying. What did you hope to find out or were you hoping for a good laugh? I am sorry to disappoint."

I turned around and came face to face with Harry. Harry suddenly frowned and shrugged his shoulders. "I am sure you are not surprised. You were right about me after all these years. I admit defeat. You win. I am done."

I watched as Harry proceeded to walk around me. "I was not trying to spy. I was lost in thought and not paying attention until I heard voices."

Harry sighed sorrowfully. "That may be true, but the result is still the same. Now, I would like to be left alone."

"How do you handle all that power?"

"I don't. I still have bouts of accidental magic, because I can never use enough even at school. Have a good night?"

I knew I had to ask, because I may not get another shot. "Is that what happened at the Triwizard selection?"

Harry turned around. "I was terrified. I did not want any more publicity. I did not want any more attention. My scar had been itching and aching for days. I was full of fear. They kept getting closer. I had a flashback of something else. I felt something snap inside and rush through me and I tried to pull it back; however, my emotions were too high. It burst from me. I saw the bright light, and the bolt of magic that hit the castle but after that I remember nothing."

I just stared in shock. "Blaise and I were hit with a bolt of magic that was shot from the cup. It aimed specifically for us."

"What are you saying?" Harry snarled.

"I am not sure. I have spent two years trying to ignore it. Yet, I knew it was something."

"Are you telling me that some of these changes I feel is the result of the Goblet of Fire? Are you telling me that is why I felt a pull on my magic this summer?" He began to pace back and forth. "Damn it, why can't something just be my own? I am so tired of people and magic interfering in my life always thinking they know better."

I noticed that Harry's voice shook and so did mine when I asked the next question. "What changes?"

"It doesn't matter. It apparently is not real. I am not my own. I am nothing but whatever people want me to be, or what they want from me. Now please, leave me alone. It is not safe out here with me. The centaurs know what to do. We have established a routine over the last few years. I do still want that truce, but right now just go." I watched him walk away from me; so, I turned and walked back to the castle with dozens of thoughts running through my head. But there was one thought that kept repeating through my mind. Maybe Blaise is right.