After 'the falling incident,' as he called it, they had talked all night. He moved slowly and carefully into the dark lord's side, cuddling up to him. And Harry felt the Dark Lord's hand reach for his hair, and he smiled.

"Harry, tell me about your time at Hogwarts,? "

"Well, as you know, I'm in Slytherin, and you can't tell anyone, but there's this classroom I go to now and then; it's on the third floor, on the second corridor to the left, and it used to be an art room." When I can't sleep, I use it to paint and sketch all the time."

"Thank you for entrusting me with your secret darling," Harry's stomach fluttered as he remembered that he'd never told anyone about his art studio. Maybe he'll give the dark lord one of his paintings someday. Something he'd never had the courage to do

"A secret for a secret Marvalo," he teased as his heart rate quickened.

"And the Slytherin shows," the Dark Lord grumbled.

"I don't know why I'm courting you. "Harry, when I look at you, I see something more than a follower, and you sparkle in a room."

He inquired, "sparkle?"

The dark lord sneered back, "your presence is like a beacon calling my name."

He was rewarded with a blushing Harry

They met practically every night that week, often until late at night, sharing stories and getting to know one another. Harry dreaded returning to Hogwarts as the months of vacation turned into weeks. Even if it was his final year.

"Hogwarts will begin shortly," the dark lord said, motioning Harry to take a seat on the couch, "and I want us to keep in touch." Harry's heart skipped a beat.

"It works something like a vanishing cabinet and is keyed to your bracelet, so only you can access it," the dark lord explained as he handed him an ornate box.

Has this man thought of everything? Hed had never been drawn to a thoughtful present before. He never imagined he would, and it appears he was proven incorrect yet again.

"Thank you, sincerely," the man in question said nothing, nodding and looking aside as if he didn't understand the sincere gratitude.

Dark lords who are emotionally stunted. sigh

He stood up and walked calmly over to the dark lord, leaning into his arms and murmuring, "I want to thank you for the box because I think I won't want to return to Hogwarts without it," he said as Marvalos' arms tensed around him.

"I've grown to enjoy our time together as well, harry," the Dark Lord murmured.

"I didn't mention anything about our chats, you pretentious bastard, perhaps I'd miss my mother"

"of course, how foolish of me to assume-"

As he began to rant, Harry's lips cut him off, and Tom's mind becomes blissfully blank for the second time in years. All he can think of is how Harry's lips merge against his own, and how Harry has already emitted a quiet sigh of impatience, waiting for him to deepen the kiss.

He draws away grudgingly, and Harry follows his lips instinctively.

" You write to me, yes?" he inquires his voice horse.

Harry returns to his favorite activity with a quiet "mhm."

Harry was well aware that this was a horrible idea, but he was unconcerned. He was so drunk that he giggled again as he fell to the ground. He'd just returned from a night out with Draco and a few other mates. Draco had been dumped like a sack of potatoes on Harry's bed, and he had staggered and tripped his way to his father's office.

In such a state, he should surely not visit the dark lord, but- wait, what was he saying again?

"The Dark Mannor," he adds, his syllables slurred slightly. He lands on the ground, just like the first time he had done this.

"What are you doing here Harry?" he says, his voice calm.

"Well, I'm come to visit you, love, I've missed your high and mighty attitude immensely since yesterday," Harry replies, his tone relaxed yet his eyes flashing with mirth.

"Oh dear," the dark lord murmurs.

"Did you know Aiden, that one time at Hogwarts?" Harry asks suddenly. "Avery? So, basically, he thought he could intimidate me because I was 'a spare'. At Hogwarts, they referred to me as the spare. I wasn't the successor to the estate because I wasn't the heir to the estate."

"Look at me now," he snorts looking smug, waving around the room. "I'm going to have a fling with a Greek god who happens to be a part-time Dark Lord."

Harry went on-

"And the jerk, do you know what he said?" Harry wondered aloud.

"He said" hic- "that I should" hic- " be aware of my superiors"

"I cursed that homophobic asre with that one spell that represses all erections for a week," hic- "and his girlfriend thought he was gay," hic-

And on-

"So I mounted the horse because I'm not going to lose this bet" The dark lord isn't embarrassed to express that he's invested.

"And it takes off straight into the forbidden forest," he continues, nodding.

"Right now I'm clinging to this maniac of a horse for dear life, and the centaurs and Hagrid, the groundskeeper, are chasing after me," he says, motioning with his hands.

"And then just as I'm about to-" after which he passes out

He nudges Harry, almost as if he wants him to wake up, but he lacks the fortitude to do so.

So he sighs, lifts Harry, and carries him over to his room, where he drops the boy on his bed.

The boy should be damned to hell. How could he sleep when he couldn't wait to find out what happened next?

Poor Lucius, he had no idea Harry was a brat. Lucius' hair was a mess and his eyebags were miles long, and he'd seen him look rugged at meetings on occasion. He realised it was a miracle he was getting any sleep at all with this hellion for a child.

He slid into the bed next to his darling, transforming his robes into pyjamas. Harry slid into his arms, perfectly positioned into his frame, as if he sensed Marvalo next to him.

The dark lord gave the man a gentle smile. He'd know everything there is to know about the minx.