Yo. Thank you to all readers so far.

Leo pulled back, and Harry, his lips tingling oddly, just stood there blinking dumbly, his hands still pressed flat on the table.

"Kept you waiting, huh?"

Harry said nothing, and surprisingly, it was Dumbledore who broke the silence that had fallen. "Well," he said, still smiling and twinkling like it was nobody's business. "I didn't realize the two of you were acquainted."

"I think they're more than just 'acquainted', Albus," said McGonagall faintly, clearly not having expected such a sudden and blatant act of PDA.

But Harry and Leo paid no attention to anyone, and in silence, left the Great Hall together. They made their way through the castle, up many flights of stairs, and all the way to the Room of Requirement. Harry walked past the wall three times, then wrenched the door open when it appeared. Once they were inside, he slammed the door shut, and then turned to face the man, arms folded across his chest, waiting.

Sure enough, Leo's appearance began to change. He grew a little taller, a little leaner, the shape of his jaw, nose, and mouth changing slightly as well. His skin paled, his hair shortened and darkened, his eyes going from a simple chestnut brown to a strange, and complex crimson.

Harry was unimpressed. "Do I even want to know how it was possible for you to get into the castle?"

"No. And while I thank you for the potion that gave me my old body back, do I want to know how you managed to create and brew it?"

"No." There was a pause. "What the fuck happened?" Harry questioned finally. "I kept writing to you, but you never wrote anything back. No one's heard from you in weeks, according to Snape!"

"I sent some Death Eaters on a raid," Voldemort replied after what appeared to be a moment of contemplation. "However, it seems it was a trap of sorts, set by Dumbledore. When I went and attempted to salvage the situation, I was left gravely injured. When I returned to my manor, I collapsed and, according to Nagini, was unconscious for nearly three weeks. I woke on new year's eve, at which point I received your gift."

Harry's eyes widened. "You almost died?" he said in disbelief.

"Yes," the Dark Lord said simply.

"Huh. ...Why are you here, then?"

"I have already taken over the government. Now it is time for me to do the same here."

Harry understood. "So you'll do it from the inside-infiltration, sneaking mission style." He nodded to himself, and moved to sit in one of the armchairs that had just appeared, watching as Voldemort did the same. "What the hell was that kiss for?"

"Because I felt like it," Voldemort deadpanned. "Use your brain. In most cases, it would be odd and suspicious for you to speak to and be near me, as a professor. Now it will be expected."

Harry raised a brow. "And you had to kiss me for that? You couldn't find any other way to do this?" There had to be plenty of alternative methods out there, right?

"No."

"Uh huh... Yeah, see this face? This face means I definitely believe you for sure." He looked at him closely. "How did you get past security anyway?" he questioned sarcastically.

Voldemort was the one to raise a brow now. "Hogwarts does not have security," he replied in equal sarcasm.

"Well that explains a whole lot." Harry sighed. "So, why hasn't there been anything against Dumbledore in the paper recently? Do you have any idea?"

"I do, actually. It seems the young reporter I left in charge was attacked a number of weeks ago. She is currently in St Mungo's, healing from some very serious injuries."

Well, he certainly hadn't expected that. Harry ran his fingers through his hair in an agitated manner. "Do you know who attacked her?"

Voldemort shook his head, relaxing in his seat. "I do not. She claimed it happened while she was walking through Diagon Alley, and from behind, as well. I saw her memories. She had no time to retaliate before she was taken down. It was surprising that she even survived."

Harry frowned. "I...wonder if Dumbledore was behind it," he said slowly. "I mean, she's been writing about him, and exposing his secrets, right?"

The Dark Lord nodded in agreement. "She is currently being guarded by some of my more...competent followers, in case whoever it was tries again."

"Well, that's better than nothing."

The two fell silent, Harry trying not to fidget under the odd way he was currently being looked at. It was sort of happy, sort of curious, and sort of smug all at once. He had absolutely no idea what it meant, and quickly tried to search for something to say.

"Sooo, I heard Nagini lost to Hedwig in a high noon face off for a juicy mouse."

Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "Did she now? It seems she failed to mention that. Though I do not doubt it. That bird of yours is a menace. Majestic, but a menace."

Harry smirked. "She learned from the best."

"The best?"

His smirk grew, green eyes filled with amusement. "She's quite fond of Thorin, apparently."

"...What?"

"Yeah, she thinks he's almost as majestic as she is. Almost."

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