Thankfully the Slytherin common room was quiet. Only a handful of students were scattered around, immersed in their homework or with discussions with their friends.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, he wouldn't have wanted to stir up a scene. From what Nearly Headless Nick had told them, students weren't supposed to visit other common rooms. Not to mention, Snape was head of Slytherin house and Harry didn't want to give him an excuse to hate him more then he already did.

Tom didn't seem to notice, he moved as confidently as ever, positioning himself among the small group of first year Slytherin's. Harry sat down beside him, trying desperately not to fidget under their stares.

Crabbe and his hyena Camelai were eyeing them up, and Harry suspected they were looking for a fight. Goyle's gorilla grunted in their direction.

Pansy, Theodore and Blaise, who Harry had yet to speak to, were looking at Draco as if he had gone mad.

Pansy's dæmon, a stunning black swan, ruffled his wings.

"You're a Slytherin?" he asked Tom.

Draco who was now sitting calmly in an arm chair, rose an eyebrow. Adara ran down his arm to stand before the swan.

"I said he was, Patamon, are you doubting us?" she snapped.

Pansy just wrinkled her nose at this, and turned to Harry.

"You're still a Gryffindor though," she said stiffly. Harry remained silent, along with the other Slytherin's.

At this comment, Tom tilted his head to the side and flashed Pansy one of his charming smiles.

"You can't blame Harry for being misguided."

Patamon looked affronted, whereas Pansy blinked stunned.

"I do hope you can forgive his intrusion," Tom added, ruffling Harry's hair patronisingly.

Harry battered it away, scowling. Pansy however blushed.

"Not at all," she muttered.

"So why did you pick Gryffindor?" Blaise asked Harry coolly. His cheetah dæmon bared its teeth with a low growl.

"The sorting hat deemed it necessary to decide for us," Tom said lightly.

"Well, that's typically how it works," Draco added with a sharp look towards Blaise.

"Any reason why your dæmon is acting like a wild animal?" Tom mocked.

"Her name is Lalini" Blaise snapped back. Lalini dipped her head, but her sharp eyes remained level.

The Slytherin's shifted, clearly offended, however Draco leaned forwards.

"Tom is correct, Blaise," he said. "We are all friends here."

Lalini shifted as Blaise shot Draco an equally cold look, instead he turned to Harry.

"Don't you speak at all?" Blaise asked.

Harry leaned back, crossing his arms. He shot Tom a look.

"With permission," Harry lied.

Blaise spluttered indignantly, clearly not liking the way dæmon and humans roles had swapped. Tom's mouth curled into a smile.

Theodore, who had been watching silently, sat back, an amused look crossing his face as he glanced towards Draco and nodded.

Draco smirked back.

Blaise looked between them confused, as Lalini's piercing eyes shot between Adara and Theodore's dæmon, a sparrowhawk who was watching Tom carefully,

Pansy, bored of the boys jabs, interrupted.

"Ignore Blaise," she said, waving a hand dismissively as her swan bristled. "I find your presence more then enjoyable."

She glanced her eyes sideways to Harry before back to Tom.

"Regardless of how direct you are with ourselves."

"That's because he grew up with Muggles," Blaise sniffed. "Potter doesn't know the pureblood ways, his dæmon is out of line."

Draco opened his mouth in an attempt to do damage control. Tom however spoke first.

"Enlighten me," He said coolly. Harry too wanted to know what they'd done wrong this time.

Blaise just sneered at him, moving a hand to stroke his cheetah's fur. He addressed Harry instead.

"Daemons are a natural extension of the soul," Blaise explained. "Every moment is shared, with dæmons being more expressive."

Harry had noticed this, although Tom was probably an exception.

"Daemons interact with each other, they reflect the humans interactions and act appropriately," Blaise flicked Tom a cold look. "To address a human is rare. It isn't necessary, and reflects poorly. It's like your emotions are on show."

"You're so old fashioned Blaise," Pansy sniffed.

"Draco's always spoken to Tom," Harry pointed out. Adara too was vocal and in turn, Ron's dæmon always spoke to Harry.

"Tom is hardly a normal dæmon, and Pansy is right," Theodore nodded. "Hardly anyone behaves that way any more."

As a response Tom just smiled, he opened his mouth to interject before an angry voice interrupted the group.

"What is Potter doing here?"

The first year Slytherin's spun around, and a number of silent eyes shifted in their direction.

Harry found himself staring at a large burly fifth year, a shiny prefect badge sitting proudly on their chest.

"I invited him," Draco responded at once, chin jutting out.

"And he's not welcome," Blaise added.

"He's a Gryffindor, he shouldn't be here."

The prefects wild cat hissed, fur sticking up on edge as her back arched. Adara immediately went to counter this, her teeth bared despite her small size in comparison.

The other first years sat their quietly, their dæmons shifting into what looked like submissive forms.

Draco went for his wand.

The prefect raised an eyebrow at this, anger turning into cold amusement. He ignored Draco completely as he turned to Harry.

"Get out."

He didn't even bother to draw his own wand.

Harry didn't move, instead he looked anxiously towards a perfectly calm Tom, this was his problem.

At the lack of movement the prefect lost patience. Irritated he moved forwards, making to grab Harry by the arm, seemingly planning to physically remove him from the common room. Big mistake.

Tom stood suddenly, jerking the wand sharply towards the prefect.

There was an ear splitting crunch as his leg snapped. There was a scream and the wild cat retreated, running into the prefects arms in desperation. Tom levelled the wand carefully.

"Think about touching Harry again and I will kill you," he said softly.

There was a deafening silence and even Draco looked fearful, Adara cowered, making herself look as small as possible.

Harry wanted to leave, although used to Dudley's hospitalised childhood, he couldn't help but tug onto Tom's sleeve, fingers curling in tightly.

"You'll pay for that Potter," another Slytherin interjected furiously. He was probably one of the prefects friends, and they drew their own wand, directing it straight towards Tom.

Several people acted at once. Draco grabbed Harry and pulled him back, and two older Slytherin's and their dæmons appeared from nowhere, positioning themselves in front of Tom.

"Know you place, Rupert," a seventh year said coolly, his meerkat dæmon had it's teeth bared.

"Potter's dæmon-" The boy, Rupert, brandished his wand.

"Has done nothing of consequence," the seventh year responded without hesitation. "The same cannot be said for yourself or Drummond."

He then turned towards Tom, and bowed his head.

"My apologies," the boy stated, "It will not happen again."

Harry's heart was hammering, but Tom looked in his element, weighing his wand carefully now, as if deliberating what to do. Harry shot him a desperate look, urging him not to continue.

Thankfully Tom relented, stepping out from behind his Slytherin guards, he looked almost bored.

"Come here, Harry," Tom said softly, holding out his hand.

Harry took it, at once feeling Tom's comforting touch rush through him.

The common room remained deadly silent as Tom pulled Harry through it.

It wasn't until they reached the entrance did Tom turn back.

"Deal with him."

One small command was all it took, but the prefect on the floor tensed, not understanding why his house mates were turning against him as they leveled their wands.

Tom pulled Harry out of the common room, not once looking back.

"The older Slytherin's think you remember being Voldemort," Harry started as soon as they were out of earshot.

Tom smirked, but his eyes were hard.

"It wouldn't be any fun if I corrected them."

Harry didn't answer this, his heart was hammering painfully, thoughts racing.

"How do they know who you are?" he managed to ask.

Tom shot Harry a look as they continued to walk.

"Hermione is a muggleborn and she managed to work it out. It would be shameless, if a house of mostly purebloods had no indication."

"You mean their parents are Death Eaters?"

"I believe so, I suspect that is how Draco knew at the very least. The comment he made back in Diagon alley certainly implies his father is sympathetic to the dark," Tom said.

"Still I don't think you should have broken his leg," Harry said. "It was careless. If the teachers find out-"

"I'm not worried about the teachers," Tom said.

Harry stopped walking as he clenched his fists.

"Tom, this is serious. They hate Voldemort. In honestly, I'm surprised we haven't been locked up already."

Tom stopped walking as well, tilting his head to the side as he crossed his arms.

"Would you rather I had let them throw you out the common room?" he asked. "Let them hurt you?"

"It's not about hurting me," Harry protested. "This is more then that. You're a Dark Wizard, and you're given them plenty of reasons to do something about it. The more people know, the less safe it is for you."

Tom stepped close to him, a sad smile on his face.

"Who do you think our enemy is?"

Harry's eyebrows knotted together in confusion. At his lack of response Tom continued.

"Everyone is our enemy."

Harry bristled.

"You seemed to be getting on just fine with the Slytherin's. I imagine you'll be hunting muggles soon."

Tom snapped, calm composure breaking.

"I did it for you," he hissed. "Are you deliberately being stupid, or are you really this ignorant?"

Harry felt his stomach churn, as he tried to hold Tom's cold gaze.

"What then?" Harry said.

"If the death eaters know about me, they will act," Tom said, his eyes never once left Harry's. "Which means, they will want to get hold of you."

"The death eaters won't hurt me though," Harry said. "I'm with you, that's the point. They won't hurt me while we're together. My life is your life."

"Without commands, I can not predict their actions," Tom explained coolly. "And from the little I've read about them, they are ruthless."

Harry swallowed thickly, heart racing.

"What do you think would happen?" Tom asked quietly. "If the death eaters thought I didn't remember being Voldemort, or that I wasn't capable of being their Lord?"

Harry almost didn't want to answer.

"They would try to take you, or try and hurt me."

Tom nodded sharply.

"They would act how they see best, and do whatever necessary to give Voldemort back his memories, I doubt they will listen to a child. That's why we have to be careful around the Slytherin's. They are built on connections, and old ways. One wrong move and the death eaters will respond."

"I don't understand," Harry felt stupid for even asking. "Don't you want to remember?"

Tom sighed, but his eyes were hard and determined.

He moved forwards, pulling Harry close. "

I won't let any one hurt you, not again. Muggles, Death Eaters, or anyone else. Do you understand?"

"It's not your job to protect me," Harry bit out, before relenting with a shrug and a weak smile. "You're a Dark Lord anyway, you're meant to be the bad guy."

Tom's grip tightened, and if Harry hadn't known better he would have thought he was afraid.

"Please Harry, we're on different sides of a war. Everyone is our enemy. The dark will protect me, but will only save you if I command it. I need the death eaters to listen to me."

Instead of feeling comfort, Harry felt all strength drain out of him to flood with horror.

All this time Tom was trying to protect him from his side, his followers, because they were perceived to be more dangerous.

Harry swallowed thickly.

"What about the light?"

Tom's jaw clenched, but he nodded.

"They are equally as dangerous, I know that, which is why I also need the death eaters on my side. Any movement, and they may be our only way out."

Harry felt his throat run dry. "You've already thought about this, why didn't you say anything? What about Hermione, if she knows?"

"Hermione can tell the teachers no additional information," Tom said. "However, this gives us an advantage."

Harry blinked.

"It does?"

"Depending on her response, we may get a clearer indication of their actions. If nothing happens, then we can safety assume that they want the information to remain quiet, and they are only observing us for now."

"Why would they be observing us?" Harry asked. "Surely it makes more sense to act straight away?"

Tom nodded. "I'm actually surprised that no one has even spoken to us about it, which means they are waiting for something."

"What?"

Tom was completely silent, before he just shook his head and flashed a smile at Harry, starling him.

"I'm probably just being paranoid. Come on," he grabbed Harry's hand to pull him forwards. "Dinner should be in the Great Hall by now."

Harry let Tom pull him down the corridor, trying not to let his thoughts run away with him. He didn't like any of this, but Tom's hand squeezing in his was reassurance he could hold onto.

As the next few days went past, Harry was pleasantly surprised when everything remained normal. Sure, Hermione was avoiding them, but she had been annoying in the first place.

"I don't know what you've done mate," Ron commented as Hermione and Ramiron darted out of the greenhouse at the end of their lesson. "But you'll have to give me some pointers, she was an absolute nightmare in charms this morning."

Harry shrugged as they walked back up to the castle. The Slytherin's too had been oddly quiet, and Harry hadn't spoken to Draco since the incident in the Slytherin common room.

It was bad enough, worrying that everyone would find out about Tom, but Harry was getting the impression that something else was going on.

Along with Hermione's silence the teachers had also stopped harassing Tom as much. Professor McGonagall hadn't even complained when Tom performed magic in class. And even Snape had let Tom help Harry with his potion. Tom hadn't spoken to him about the Death Eaters again, and Harry hated to admit it, but he was reluctant to ask.

So it was a relief when flying classes finally started. Harry had been looking forward to riding a broomstick from the start, and he needed something to take his mind off things.

The only downside was that it was with the Slytherin's.

Harry tried his best to ignore the stares from his classmates as they lined up on the grass. Lalini, Blaise's cheetah was watching Tom again from a distance.

"Flying is an essential skill for any witch or wizard," Madam Hooch started, pulling Harry's attention away.

Harry couldn't help but gape at her dæmon. It was a huge hawk with piercing eyes and looked like it was eyeing up the smaller, rodent dæmons with much more then mild interest.

"Some of you will be lucky and have dæmon's that can fly. Those of you who have smaller dæmons, will be able to keep them safety in the respective baskets."

She pointed to the majority of broomsticks lying in the ground. They had baskets attached to the underside and looked very precarious.

"Those of you with larger dæmons, do not fly above that line," Madam Hooch gestured towards a thin red line marked high on the side of a several poles in a wide square. "Also if your dæmon stays in the middle of this marked spot, you will be able to fly safety within the bounds marked."

Harry was relieved to see that Tom should be able to fit on the broomstick with him.

Hermione's hand shot high into the air.

"How do witches or wizards fly long distances if they have a large dæmon?"

"They normally use other means of transport, however they can train themselves to be apart from each other," Madam Hooch instructed. "This is unusual though, and typically is only common for professional Quidditch players to learn."

"The twins have it easy," Ron muttered beside him. "Because they share dæmons, as long as one of them stays near the ground they don't have to bother."

"What about Sephronia?" Harry asked, he wasn't sure if she would fit in the basket.

"I manage in the basket," Sephronia said "Anything to fly."

Hermione was looking even more apprehensive then she had done at breakfast. Ramiron was eyeing up the basket attached to the broom with clear uncertainty.

Neville's dæmon was flicking through different forms so rapidly that Harry could barely keep track.

Cyrilla was an eagle, a sparrow, a pigeon, before finally settling on a swallow, however she only continued to flit around Neville's head as he looked terrified.

Madam Hooch then instructed them each to pick a broom and get in position.

Tom eyed the broom cautiously.

Harry glanced at him warily.

"Just get on the broom," Harry whispered under his breath.

Tom glared at him.

"I am not getting on that thing, it's a death trap."

"Well how the hell am I supposed to fly?" Harry asked. "If you haven't noticed this is a flying lesson."

"Just don't go far from me," Tom said. "I'm staying on the ground."

Harry scowled at this.

"Come on. I won't even complain if you want to go to the library later."

"Not good enough, Harry."

Harry glared at him, he'd been looking forward to flying all week, but he didn't have anything to bargain with.

The students lined themselves up with the brooms.

"Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front. "And say, Up!"

"Up!" everyone shouted.

Harry's broom jumped into his hand at once. Other broomsticks however, seemed happy enough to remain on the ground, leaving both human and dæmon frustrated.

"Please," Harry muttered under his breath, as Madam Hooch went around correcting everyone's handling.

Tom ignored his request.

"Just be careful okay."

Harry huffed, he wasn't going to hurt himself.

"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," shouted Madam Hooch, drawing their attention back. "Remember those of you with baskets, watch the back of your broomstick, your dæmon won't appreciate being knocked around."

Some dæmon's were looking terrified, curled up in their baskets and looking as if they'd rather be anywhere else.

Harry couldn't help but feel utterly disappointed as Tom remained perfectly still.

"On my whistle then – three – two-" The hawk instructed with a screech.

Neville kicked off hurriedly, immediately rising high into the sky.

"Come back, boy," Madam Hooch yelled, but he was moving straight up, higher and higher. Cyrilla darted around him, her small wings beating furiously.

Madam Hooch's Hawk took flight, his large wings soaring.

Neville was panicking, as he failed to bring the broom under control. The class watched horrified as nothing could be done.

He slipped.

Cyrilla changed in an instant, her small form transforming into a huge sea eagle. Wingspan several metres wide, as she dived underneath him. Neville's body was enough to throw her off balance as they tumbled.

The class watched terrified, some of the girls screamed.

However Cyrilla had done enough, Neville's fall had been slowed and they hid the ground with a relatively gentle thud.

Madam Hooch rushed over, her hawk swooping over head.

"Come on, Hospital Wing now," she tutted and turned to the class, as she pulled a very shaky Neville along. "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing. You leave those brooms where they are."

Cyrilla was changing shape rapid again, distraught that Neville was in pain.

As soon as they were out of ear shot, Draco burst into laughter.

"Did you see his face?"

The other Slytherin's joined in.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Parvati snapped.

Harry clenched his fists. Tom placed a warning hand on his shoulder. He didn't owe Tom any favours any more, and even the risk of Death Eaters felt like a distant threat.

"Look, Longbottom's dropped something," Draco started ignoring the angry Gryffindor's. He darted forwards to seize what looked like a large round glass ball lying in the grass.

He threw it up in the air precariously as Adara jumped around excitedly.

"That's a remembrall," Hermione stated curiously as he peered closer. "It's meant to turn red if you've forgotten something."

She looked up and accidentally caught Harry's eye. She clamped her mouth shut.

"Why don't I leave it up a tree?" Draco mocked.

Harry frowned at this and ignored Tom's warning squeeze.

"Give it here, Draco," Harry said as he held out his hand.

Silence fell, both from the laughing Slytherin's and the mumblings of the disgruntled Gryffindor's. Draco's mouth fell open in shock.

"Sorry?" he stated, staring at Harry as if he'd gone mad.

"The remembrall," Harry stated, "Give it here."

Draco blinked, his eyes sliding over to Tom. Harry felt sick at this, it was almost as if the Slytherin was asking permission, Tom however, didn't react.

Adara seemed to deem that everything was acceptable as she nodded towards Draco. He recovered immediately, another thinner smile also creeping onto his face.

"Okay, Harry," he smirked, his eyes alight with competition. "How about we make this interesting?"

Harry blinked, totally confused.

"You better win," Tom stated an edge to his voice.

"You catch it, you keep it," Draco said, much to the rising tension of the group as he moved onto his broomstick in one fluent movement.

Harry knew that one word from Tom and Draco would stop, annoyed he gritted his teeth together.

"Fine," he turned to Tom. "Get on then."

Harry swung his leg over his own broomstick. Tom's smile vanished in a second, as his gaze turned hard.

He couldn't say no, not in front of the Slytherin's.

Harry grinned, as Tom moved forwards, stepping over the broomstick and locking his hands around Harry's waist. Not surprisingly Draco looked unnerved. He probably hadn't thought he'd be playing against Voldemort.

Instead of jumping into the basket, Adara ran up Draco's arm as he knelt down, positioning herself so she was on his shoulder. Draco pushed off expertly.

He pulled up, so he was hovering just below the height where the dæmon line marked.

"Go on," Ron encouraged, glaring up at Draco in anger. Some of the other Gryffindor's also looked eager to see Harry take on Draco. Hermione however was looking completely torn, she was biting her lip as if forcing herself not to protest.

She met Harry's eyes, and promptly looked away again.

Harry pushed off into the air after Draco, feeling his hair swoop back as all his anxieties left him. He pulled himself up gently and the broom responded beautifully, mirroring his desires perfectly as he levelled himself out across from Draco.

The blond looked surprised momentarily before a grin spread across his lips.

"Not bad."

Before Draco turned his broom skywards. Adara dug in her claws, not even blinking as they darted higher into the air.

Harry jerked his own broomstick up at once, tearing upwards in a rush of excitement, he felt Tom's grip around his waist tighten.

He had barely moved higher when something went terribly wrong.

Harry's eyes widened as he felt coldness descend, the grip on the broomstick becoming instantly slack. His body became lifeless. He had no time to contemplate the emptiness, the absence on his soul. Harry had never felt so alone, despite Tom's arms still gripping tightly around his waist.

He had no control over his body, as it slipped sideways. The whole weight of the broom twisted awkwardly, and Tom's tightening grip wasn't enough.

Harry fell.

He couldn't feel the wind rushing past his face or the screams from his classmates, it was only nothingness as he slammed down hard into the solid ground.

The next few seconds flashed by in blurry pain. Harry had never remembered feeling so disconnected and his body remained still, lost and afraid.

Tom was by his side in an instant, throwing the broomstick aside, his own face ashen and pale, his hands shaking as his fingers crept over Harry. He didn't look like he could speak as Harry blinked rapidly and his vision swam.

The coldness was receding now, the pain of his injuries flooding his senses as he clenched his teeth and hissed in agony.

"Stay still," Tom whispered as he clung to Harry.

Someone else was calling out through the panic as Harry felt sickness overcome him.

"Stay awake," Tom insisted, shaking Harry's numb body with his cool fingers. They were soothing to Harry's skin but he couldn't find his voice to tell him.

"Out of my way," a sharp voice yelled.

Tom stepped back, his eyes ablaze with terror. Harry wanted to raise his arm, to pull Tom back close to him, but he couldn't move. Everything just hurt as his vision shifted back and forth from black.

A shimmering light moved in his view. It was McGonagall's dæmon, but Harry couldn't concentrate. He was vaguely aware of her moving her wand. Harry felt the pain fade as his breathing remained sharp and uneven.

The cold grass moved away as Harry's body floated into the air. He hissed in pain as his body screamed in protest. Tom was back by his side in an instant, and Harry sought him out, feeling so weak and desperate for the comfort of their connection.

It wasn't enough and he blacked out.

Harry shivered, he was so so cold. It felt like he had no strength to warm himself. He turned feverishly, his head was burning.

"Stay still."

Harry froze at the voice, blinking back his tiredness.

"Tom," Harry tried to move and grab hold of Tom.

A warm hand enclosed tightly around his wrist, shaking some of the emptiness as strength flooded into him.

Harry pulled his eyes open to seek out Tom. Tom was pale and his whole composure rigid.

Harry tried to sit up, but the movement caused his body to burn in pain.

"I told you to stay still," Tom's said harshly, his other hand moving to hold Harry down.

Harry's head pounded as he lay flat on his back. Tom didn't seem satisfied that Harry wasn't going to attempt to move again, so he remained holding onto him.

Harry wasn't going to complain at the close proximately, Tom's touch was a lifeline.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Tom's eyes shot to him, but he didn't answer.

Harry's head was racing. He could remember flying and then only a sudden emptiness. The fact that his body had collided with the ground felt insignificant in comparison.

Tom's eyes were scanning over what must have been his broken body, as if searching for an answer.

"It felt like...like something had gone," Harry whispered. It was such a stupid explanation, and didn't reflect at all what had happened.

Tom's eyes narrowed just a shade.

"What does it feel like now?" Tom asked softly.

Harry turned his head away.

"Okay, I just feel a bit shaky."

Tom's hands tightened instinctively.

"What?" Harry pressed. Tom's reactions were starting to make his heart beat quicken.

"You broke a number of bones," Tom said. "Most of your major injuries however, have already been healed."

Harry turned his head back to Tom, who had leaned back slightly, content that Harry wasn't about to sit up again in a hurry.

"Are you okay?"

Tom paused before nodding.

"I'm fine."

"You're not," Harry started at once, throat thick. He could tell when Tom was lying. "Tom? Did it feel different for you to?"

"You flew above the dæmon line" Tom said, his own voice oddly distant.

Harry frowned.

"That shouldn't have mattered-" Harry began at once. "You were with me."

He really didn't like the way Tom was looking at him.

"Harry, you can't ignore the facts," his voice was quiet. "You know what happened."

When Harry didn't reply, Tom sighed.

"Your dæmon is real."

Harry shook his head numbly.

"You're my dæmon."

Tom gave him a scolding look.

"You know what I mean. Your dæmon can't fly, and you flew away from it, you went beyond your boundaries. That's why you fell."

Harry automatically opened his mouth to protest, but at that precise moment the hospital wing door creaked open.

"Good evening, Mr Potter."

It was Dumbledore and he was smiling.

Chapter seven updated May 2018