"Are your things packed Harry?" Tom asked, sitting on the arm chair.
"Yes. They're packed."
"Are you sure? You will lose complete access to this house when you step foot in Hogwarts, unless of course I say so. The only thing lost would be some of your pride if I have to come back and get something."
"Yes, everything's packed Tom." I said, annoyed. I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Why- OW! That hurt!" I yelled, rubbing the back of my head where Tom had whacked me. "I was going to ask why you were concerned, but you're just a complete twat!" I yelled at him. "OW! Stop that!" I yelled, rubbing more, and keeping my hand there, just to keep from receiving any more attacks.
"Disrespect me one more time child and see where I hit you." Tom whispered softly, not angrily, in my ear. I backed away, trying to hide the shiver that went up my spine. "You know Harry, there are plenty of people who would kill to be in your shoes."
"What? Next to the Dark Lord? I'm sure but I'm not one of them!"
"I mean to say that you should be grateful." He hissed, almost in parseltongue. "Harry, let me get something straight. While in the public eye you are not to call me 'Tom'. My other names will suffice. By that I mean, in front of the children. The only one I approve of calling me by that name is Slughorn, and you."
"Me?"
"Yes. It helps me determine your mood based upon what you call me. If I am called 'Tom' then you are feeling quite docile… well as docile as you can be. You call me 'Voldemort' when you are feeling particularly angry with me."
"I do not!" I yelled at him. He waved his hand dismissively.
"This is a moot point. Go get your things."
"I- You- What-"
"Just do as I say. It will make it easier for you and I." I marched upstairs to get my things and collect my thoughts. When I came to the landing the second time, I knew only one word to say to him. I stopped just out of range. I wouldn't have time to say all of what I'd like, so I'd have to pick one word.
"Bastard." He struck like a viper. He spun me around and delivered a swat to my rear before Apparating us to Platform 9 ¾ as the train horn for departure sounded.
/Get. On. The. Train./
I got on the train and found a lonely and empty compartment and threw my stuff onto the railing above before throwing myself on a seat and just put my back to the window as the train moved out. Then as I began to think about how I would be with his Death Eaters and wouldn't see him for a long time, turned to wave goodbye but it was too late. I slumped back into my seat even as the compartment door opened and Draco, Blaise, Goyle, and Crabbe came in.
"Go guard the door." Draco ordered Crabbe and Goyle. "What's wrong Harry?" Draco asked.
"Yeah. Who upset you?" I looked away from them.
"Even if I told you, you couldn't help me."
"So someone did upset you." Blaise said, getting mad.
"Who was it Potter?" Draco urged. I glared at them.
"It was Voldemort alirght?!" They were suddenly quiet. I suddenly felt guilty. They hadn't done anything, I shouldn't be yelling at them. "It was Voldemort okay?"
"What happened?" Blaise asked.
"Was the Dark Lord being mean?" Draco teased. I couldn't help myself. I smiled, I even chuckled.
"Yeah, actually. More so than usual."
"Gee, I wonder why the Dark Lord would be mean…" I gave another laugh before frowning.
"He's not always mean."
"… Did you just defend the Dark Lord?"
"No. That'd be stupid."
"But you just did."
"Don't start a sentence with 'but'."
"Whatever Potter. Just… know the Dark Lord does what He does for a reason."
"What reason is that?" Draco scoffed, suddenly defensive.
"How the hell should I know why the Dark Lord does what He does? It's not my job to decipher every little move he makes… and don't you try to understand Him either. You'll only get bitten. Like I said some time ago. He does well to tell you what He does tell you. If He doesn't want you to know, you won't know."
"You're not my book of Voldemort knowledge, so don't tell me what to do." I snapped. His gaze steeled.
"I'm just trying to tell you before you learn the hard way that He doesn't like to have someone nosing into his business."
"Fine I won't go butting in."
"Come on Draco, let's go check the rest of the compartments." Blaise said, pulling Draco.
"I don't get why-"
"You should take your own advice-" With that they were gone.
After that I got quite a few more visits. From Slytherin, I got Kaine Vex, Augusta Dolohov, Delano Vossen, and Isidore Snow. From Ravenclaw I got Kalen Hollins, Lily Moor, Skyler Ellisson, and Ann Faulkner. From Gryffindor, my old house, I got Roy Nevin, Rose Dawson, Corbin Mathers, and Kiara Shae. From Hufflepuff I got Linda Sadler, Eric Friel, and Salena Martell.
It was almost time to get changed when the door opened again. The trolley had come and gone, and I had happily bought some for everyone. Tom had given me money. I might as well use it. I turned smiling to see five people enter. I was immediately delighted.
It was Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Dean, Colin, Susan, and Dennis. "Harry!"
"Hey guys!" I said, unable to stop smiling. "What are you doing in here?"
"Death Eaters almost dragged us away from my home." Ron said, looking at Hermione and Ginny.
"We were kidnapped." Colin said, blushing. "But guess what Harry!"
"What Colin?"
"I'm Head boy."
"Dean and me too. That's strange." Ron said.
"Well Hermione, Susan, and I are Head girl." Ginny replied.
"Usually there is only one Head boy and one Head girl. From a logical point of view, You-Know-Who is trying to give us a real Seventh Year. However, it doesn't explain the fact that Draco Malfoy is 'Supreme' Head boy."
"It's sexist there isn't a 'Supreme' Head girl." Ginny scoffed.
"Guys, stop and think about it. It is very logical that Vold-"
"Harry!" Ron complained.
"-that Riddle would make a 'Supreme' Head boy, and there wouldn't be a girl. What houses did Riddle put you in?"
"Riddle?" Ginny asked. "Tom Riddle? Like from the diary? I thought you destroyed the diary."
"That's not important right now Ginny." I replied, sighing. "Right now the point is that for some reason Hermione was put in Hufflepuff and you and Ron are in Gryffindor. Colin and Dennis are in Hufflepuff with Hermione." I added that last sentence, having forgotten that they were here too. "We all know why he did it. To put our parentage out in the open. Gryffindor is supposedly for 'blood' traitors and Hufflepuff is supposedly for Muggle borns-"
"-and Slytherin stands for Pureblood in You-Know-Who's mind. Draco comes from Slytherin. That's why he's 'Supreme' Head boy. It's a statement of power over others. Then why isn't there a 'Half-Blood'?" Hermione asked.
"Still doesn't explain why there isn't a 'Supreme' Head girl." Ginny retorted.
"Because Dr-Malfoy's a Death Eater. He reports to Vold-"
"Harry!" Ginny cut in.
"He reports to his master." I snipped. "There isn't a female student who's a Death Eater. Speaking of 'Supreme', who do you think is 'Supreme' Headmaster? Or was it Headmistress?"
"Either Bellatrix Lestrange or Lucius Malfoy." Ron chipped in.
"No Ron, Lucius Malfoy can't be both Headmaster and Minister."
"Then Bellatrix."
"No! I'm not doing a damn thing that wench tells me to do." I grumbled.
"Harry? How or why are you on this train?" Ginny asked.
"Me?"
"He was with You-Know-Who. I'm surprised you're not dead yet." Ron said, astounded, until Hermione hit him.
"Ron!"
"We have to go check on the First Years." Susan said after a minute.
"Right, right." Dean said before one by one they began to leave.
"Get changed Harry. We're almost there!" Hermoine said before closing the door. I stood and began to change into my stupid Slytherin cloak. When the train stopped, I got off and into a carriage after petting the threstrals. Luna and Neville got in after me and I was upset to see Draco get in as well. The carriage yanked forward and backward as the threstrals began to move.
We were quiet during the ride and when it finallly stopped, I jumped out. All too eager to be away from Draco. Nothing to do with him, just didn't want to be near a Death Eater. I made my way in with Luna and Neville before Draco pulled me to the Slytherin table. I was quickly joined by Padma and Parvati. We talked until the big doors were opened and the First Years came in led by Avery Senior, or Ira as Tom sometimes called him. In a way it's funny. It's like role reversal. I remember the first time I walked in here. Back then Dumbledore was here. I looked at the table and froze.
Tom. Tom was here. Tom was here. He was sitting in the centre of the table. He was watching the First Years as well. Though when my gaze landed on him, his eyes flickered to mine and he gave a minimal, almost imaginary, dip of his empty cup that was in his hand. Then he went back to the procession before him. I was so furious with myself for not knowing he'd be here that I could kick myself!
I looked at the procession myself to see Bellatrix put a stool down and the hat before the new students. The hat was quiet before beginning to sing:
"One thousand years ago this story starts,
Four sorcerers with strong and wise hearts,
Gryffindor from wild moor,
Ravenclaw from glen,
Hufflepuff from valley broad,
Slytherin from fen,
They had a dream to teach all that they knew,
Now each of these four founders,
Formed their own house,
While still alive they did divide,
Their favourites from the throng,
Old Hogwarts sorting hat sing me a song,
Speak in my head tell me where I belong,
In Gryffindor, the foolish will dwell,
Set those Gryffindors apart,
In Hufflepuff, the naive would do well,
Set those Hufflepuffs apart,
In Ravenclaw, the half of all,
Set those Ravenclaws apart,
In Slytherin, the best of all hearts,
Set those Slytherins apart,
where they will reign supreme,
Old Hogwarts sorting hat sing me a song,
Speak in my head tell me where I belong."
I scoffed as the front table, staff table, began to clap. Then more began to clap until the whole hall was clapping… well not really all of us were clapping. Then Tom waved his hand dismissively, a sign I was beginning to recognize well, and the clapping came to an end. Bellatrix pulled out a roll of parchment from her cloak. She cleared her throat, flexed her fingers, and straightened her clothes, and before she could do anything else, Tom said something I couldn't hear. She quickly started the Sorting Ceremony, though I found it funny that she of all people just got yelled at by Tom… well not yelled at but… whatever.
"Kayley Andrews!" Bella called. A blushing girl walked up and stood next to the stool. Bellatrix picked up the hat. Bella whispered to her and she sat down on the stool and Bellatrix placed it on her head.
"RAVENCLAW!" the Sorting hat yelled. Bellatrix removed the hat as all the tables burst out in applause, though the Ravenclaws clapped loudest. Kayley ran over to her table and sat down, blushing harder. Then Bellatrix called out again.
"Kareem Barnes!" A boy walked up and sat down and had the hat placed on his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" This time the Gryffindor table burst out in applause and the boy ran over to his table.
"Marcus Beck!" A boy came running over.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Nelsie Bradford!" A girl came over.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Riley Cassidy!" A boy.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Pierce Collins!"
"SLYTHERIN!" This time Bellatrix gave the kid a hug and walked him to his table, close to me. In fact I was noticing that I was practically alone where I sat. Probably Tom trying to give them room to sit next to me?
"Stormy Collins!" A girl came running up.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" This time the staff table was silent and Bellatrix screeched. She pulled the hat away and gave it a quick cleaning. Hermione stood up and led the crying girl to her table. Now it was eerily silent. Tom quickly got things in motion again though.
"Keera Curran!" A girl came up hesitantly.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Damon Dolohov!" That's that kid I met! Well… one of them…
"SLYTHERIN!" He got a hug from Bellatrix and an escort. He also sat close to me.
"Donald Fry!" A boy came up.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Eevee Fry!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Reyna Gardner!" A girl.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" There was a repeat of the first time the hat called Hufflepuff, but the pause wasn't so long.
"Lacy Hall!" A hesitant girl.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Another repeat. Then Tom, eyes displaying annoyance, whispered to Bellatrix. I wish I was close enough to hear! Bellatrix had stopped mid screech from whatever he said and gave Tom a bright smile. Tom gave her a little sneer and her body froze. She was scared of whatever he'd said… and probably upset that he wasn't pleased with her.
"Peter Halls!" A boy.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" This time Bellatrix just snatched it from him.
"Christian Hawk!" A girl.
"SLYTHERIN!" This time Bellatrix gave a hug and led her to sit close to me.
"Ailbe Hayes!" A girl.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Reid Hex!" A boy.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Zoey Hill!" A girl.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Glen Hooper!" A boy.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Richard Hughes!" A boy.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Julie Hunt!" A girl.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Ebony Hunter!" Girl.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Damien Leach!" Boy.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Catherine Lestrange!" I remember her too!
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Kol Lestrange!" But then, these are her kids.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Jaycee Macnair!" Her too… I remember her.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Tom Mee!" Boy.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Silas Merrickson!" Boy.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Braydon Mondy!" Boy.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Ian Moriarty!" Boy.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"May Mulciber!" Tom wasn't kidding…
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Tony Mulloy!" Boy.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Briana Nelson!" Girl.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Natalie Nott!" Girl.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Tucker Ogden!" … That last name seems familiar. Boy.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Cody Osborn!" Boy.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"SuAnne Parsh!" Girl.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Lee Power!" Boy.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Kelly Preston!" Girl.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Zane Rookwood!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Moriah Rose!" Girl.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Marth Shine!" Boy.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Roy Shine!" Boy.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Cassandra Slater!" Girl.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Shauna Summers!" Girl.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Shawn Summers!" Boy.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Bridget Toft!" Girl.
"SLYTHERIN!" Now there were only five kids left.
"James Wakefield!" Boy.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Four.
"Muriel Walsh!" Girl.
"SLYTHERIN!" Three.
"Beatrice Wheelock!" Girl.
"RAVENCLAW!" Two.
"Alexandra Wright!" Girl.
"RAVENCLAW!" One.
"Troy Yaxley!"
"SLYTHERIN!" There was a quiet moment as Bellatrix picked up the stool and the hat and dragged it off. Then Macnair stood up and walked in front of the staff table and everyone turned to look at him, curious as to what he had to say.
"School rules are as follows: 1. Fighting is not allowed. 2. Swearing is not allowed unless said swear word is Mudblood or Halfbreed, or among those lines. 3. Talking inside the classroom while the teacher is talking is prohibited, you must learn. 4. Boys and girls are not allowed in opposite gendered bathrooms unless it is the girls bathroom on the third floor, however if you are going there you must have supervision from either the Deputy Headmaster, Headmaster, or The Supreme Headmaster." Again with supreme? Maybe Voldemort would know who that is. "5. No cheating, those who are caught cheating will report to the Headmaster for punishment. 6. No visiting the dormitories of opposite gender unless supervised by Head Of House, otherwise you will be severely punished. 7. No wandering around at night, those caught will be sent to the Headmaster for punishment or the Deputy Headmaster or Head Of House. 8. Unless the Slytherins are the culprit, there will be no bullying, also no bullying other Slytherins. 9. No overnight stays in Hogsmeade, unless given by The Supreme Headmaster. 10. Magic in the corridors are forbidden, even to Slytherins unless it is not deadly. 11. Eating in class is forbidden. 12. If a student is found disobeying the rules, points will be taken from their house, unless the broken rule has already given punishment, furthermore if the student persists in disobedience they will earn a detention and if they continue from there, the said student will either be disembowelled or sent to The Supreme Headmaster for punishment." He rolled up his parchment and sat down.
This time Selwyn stood up. "Now that that is all out of the way, I would like to just say two things before we begin to eat and fill our empty tummies with something yummy. The first is that the Forbidden Forest, is of course, forbidden… unless of course you have adult supervision, and by that I mean a staff member. Secondly, I would like to state that if any student organization wants permission to… have proceedings, then you must first give a hand written list to The Supreme Headmaster stating the leader of the group, members of the group, and any possible events. This does include Hogwarts Quidditch teams. The Quidditch teams have a fortnight to come forth. Otherwise The Supreme Headmaster will decide who is on the teams." He threw his arms open wide. "Enjoy!"
Food appeared and we began to put food on our plates. I collected my favourites and some of new foods. I was just about to dig in when Damon Dolohov spoke up. "What's it like living with the Dark Lord?"
"Awful. Guy's got mood swings like crazy."
"Didn't the Dark Lord want you dead?" Jaycee asked.
"Up until recently."
"Do you really have a scar?" May said, searching my forehead.
"Leave Harry alone. If anything you should be sucking up to me, I'm in charge of Slytherin." Draco cut in. "Plus the Dark Lord gave me permission to get you guys in trouble for anything if you upset his precious Potter."
"No he didn't." Kol said, smirking.
"Wanna test me?" Draco said silkily. Kol's eyes widened.
"Uh, no."
"That's what I thought. Now eat so you can go to bed." With that they left us alone.
"Did he really?"
"No, no he didn't. I was bluffing."
"You don't have the guts to begin a conversation with him?" I asked, grinning.
"Unlike you, I know my place. You should too."
"Screw you." He smirked.
"Look at that, Potter's breaking the rules already." I lifted my fist to punch Draco but Padma broke in, grabbing my fist and having me point at some fried fish.
"Harry, look. Doesn't it look amazing?" She asked. "Here, I'll help you put some on your plate." I shook my head, grabbing the utensil.
"No, I'll help you Padma."
"Yeah, change the subject Harry." I was about to snip at him when Padma beat me to it.
"You know, you're also breaking the rules. I thought you weren't supposed to be bullying other Slytherins. Besides, I doubt your master would be happy with you if he heard you started it."
"You shut your mouth you little-"
"I'm a Pureblood like my sister, otherwise I wouldn't be in Slytherin now. So maybe shut your mouth Malfoy." Draco, utterly furious, walked back to his friends. I smiled at Padma. "Harry, Slytherins use words to fight, you can't just beat up Malfoy, otherwise you're basically telling him that he won because he got to you. That he got under your skin."
"You sound like a Ravenclaw." I muttered, beginning to eat.
"That's because before I was put in Slytherin, I was in Ravenclaw."
"Thank you… for that… what you did with Malfoy. I've never been able to get him to shut up. Well, with words that is."
"Any time." She said, smiling. Then she went back to talking to her sister.
The rest of dinner and all of dessert passed without much fuss. By the end of dessert, Tom stood and began to talk. "It is nice to see familiar faces, just as nice as it is to see new faces. To the first years… let us hope you fill your heads with knowledge and skill beyond compare… to the older students… let us hope you did not forget too much over the summer break. For now, since we are all fed and watered, let us allow the prefects to lead you to your dorms. Sleep well and be ready for learning." With that the prefects all stood up.
For my table, it was Kaine Vex, Augusta Dolohov, Delano Vossen, and Isidore Snow. Draco came back to my side and began to lead me personally toward the Slytherin common room. "You missed your chance." He whispered to me, giving me a mean smirk.
"To what?" I scoffed.
"Show you're not afraid of the Dark Lord." I couldn't help myself. I lost it. I punched him and he felt his jaw before rearing back to attack me but we were interrupted by Rowle.
"Well if it isn't Malfoy's boy and the Dark Lord's brat." I turned on him.
"Who the hell do you think you are? I'm not anyone's 'brat', and leave Malfoy alone."
"Already breaking school rules? Just wait till the Dark Lord hears this."
"Rowle!" Snape called. Draco and I looked up to see Snape descending the Grand Staircase. "I know working at a school is new to you, but do keep your mouth shut if you only plan to get on the Dark Lord's nerves. Antagonizing Potter like that will get you no where with him."
"The traitor speaks up for Potter? Is it for the Dark Lord or is it for someone else?"
"Malfoy, Potter. Follow me. We don't want to cause a scene." Snape said, leading us up the stairs.
"That's right, turn your back on me! Coward!" I quickly pulled out my wand, tired of his stupid voice.
"Potter! Put. That. Away." I bit my lip, feeling my wand tingle with excitement. "Potter!" I snapped my gaze away from Rowle, put my wand away, and hurried off after Snape. Snape led us up the stairs to the Seventh Floor and then to a blank wall. He pulled down his sleeve and placed his Dark Mark against the stone. Instantly the wall vanished and he led us up a spiral staircase. He knocked on a door and Tom's voice called back. Shit. I'm really going to see him? Snape opened the door.
"Severus. To what do I owe-" His gaze landed on me and his tone became almost icy. "-this pleasure."
"My Lord." Snape gave a bow. "Rowle found these two fighting."
"Fighting? On the first day back? Why did Rowle not bring them then?"
"He was… antagonizing Potter."
"Hm." Tom only hummed in response before turning his head back to look out over the grounds. Tom was standing on a balcony over looking the grounds, facing the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut.
"That bastard was being a dick! I-"
"Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I ask you to speak?"
"… No? I don't think you did. Why?"
"Then that would mean you were speaking out of turn, would it not? Not to mention you are breaking even more school rules. Macnair just went through the process of listing them out. Now either you are a fool, or you did not listen. You should know exactly what rules you are breaking." He turned around to face me, and walked right up to me our skin was almost touching. "You may be Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, and Dumbledore's Golden Boy…" He leaned into my ear, whispering. "… but that does not in any way keep you from being punished." He stood back up straight. "Now tell me why you are here. What exactly did you do?"
"Uh… I… um…" He narrowed his eyes at me.
"Would you learn to use words instead of gibberish?"
"I punched Draco." He smiled, a laughing smile. He ruffled my hair.
"You really are a humour to keep around. You know you are not supposed to do that. Not only because it is against the rules but because I forbade it. You are not allowed to fight with my followers. You know this, do you not? Or did you forget? I can easily give you a reminder if you need one." I blushed.
"No, I don't need a reminder."
"Severus, would you do me a favour."
"Anything My Lord."
"Really? Anything?" Snape didn't respond this time. "Leave." Immediately Snape turned and left. Then Tom grabbed my wrist and led me to a chair before forcing me in it. "Sit." I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off. "I said sit not speak." He turned his attention off of me then. "Draco. We are friends. Are we not?"
"Yes My Lord. We're friends."
"Are we really? A friend would not hurt another friend, nor would they strike the friend of another. Tell me Draco. When Harry, while as misguided as it might have been, punched you… how did you respond?"
"Don't be a- OW!" Tom had smacked the back of my head.
"I said to be quiet. Do you need another lesson in obedience?" His fingers tightened on my neck and I shook my head. /I am running out of patience with you Harry./
"You are correct My Lord. I did try to strike Harry back. I'm-" What he was he never finished as Tom, quick as a snake, spun around and backhanded Draco. I stood up to defend him but Tom, just as fast, shoved me back in my seat.
"I do not want to hear how sorry you are. You know what I always tell you Draco. Do not be sorry, do better. You were there at the meeting, were you not? When I strictly told every single one of my followers who would be at Hogwarts how to act around Harry Potter. To disobey me in this matter is to defy me. I do not take kindly to such acts. You are of the legal age Draco Malfoy. You would be ready to take your father's place, if he were not still alive. As such I will treat you as I have treated your Father and your Father's Father. We may be friends but you will never harm something that belongs to me, am I clear?"
"Yes My Lord." Draco whispered.
"I cannot hear you, Malfoy."
"Yes My Lord." Draco said louder.
"Then I might trust you to do better in future?"
"Yes My Lord." Draco said, with certainty. Tom walked over to Draco and offered his hand.
"I lost my temper. Something I try hard not to do. I hope our friendship still stands. Or shall I make it up to you?" Draco only beamed.
"No My Lord, we're still friends." Tom gave one of his charming smiles.
"This pleases me. Very well then. Off to bed with you. I still have to talk to Harry." I suddenly felt nervous. "To make it up to you, I will allow you to guide Harry to and from his classes and to stay by his side loyally as you would my own, if only for the week. I do not need you getting tired of having the boy around."
"No My Lord, I could never get tired of Harry Potter." Draco said, beaming at Tom.
"Hello, I'm still here!" I shouted at them.
"Tut, tut. Inside voices only Harry." Tom playfully scolded as he ran his fingers through my hair. "Draco, you are dismissed."
"I'll see you later My Lord?"
"Later." With that Draco left.
"What the hell was that with Draco?"
"I was punishing my Death Eater. Granted he is a child, but he is a Death Eater all the same. You really do indeed have a foul mouth. How is this Harry? I will make it a new rule in your rule book. Then when it is no longer needed, we will throw it out."
"I don't need you telling me what I can and cannot say."
"Now let me see… how should I punish you… I punished half the party responsible, now to punish the other half." Tom was quietly going about some form of business when he looked up at me. "Ah, I have just the thing." He stood me up and led me to the corner. "Which hand did you use? Tell me or I can just do both." I lift my hand that punched Draco and he took it in his own. He spun me to face the corner, had my hand form a fist, put it to the wall, and had my head rest against it. I noticed two things immediately as Tom left me there. One, I had pins and needles feeling in my fist and having it in a fist with my head against it hurt more. Second, my mouth was full of soap. "You are to stay like that until the feeling in your hand comes back." I cringed. Damn it. I jumped at a sudden swat to my thigh. "None of that Harry, this is supposed to be teaching you a lesson." After a minute he spoke again. "Good boy Harry. You know, if you had attacked Rowle, I would have had him come in here to watch you get punished, and it would not have been this." I gulped, beginning to feel embarrassed, remembering the time at the Carrows.
When it was finally gone and I could feel my hand again, and my mouth was soap free, I was allowed out of the corner. "What have we learned Harry?"
"Not to punch Malfoy."
"Continue."
"… and not to disrespect you?"
"Are you asking me or telling me?"
"Telling."
"Lying."
"Not to punch Malfoy or disrespect you."
"Good boy. You will apologize to them."
"I'm sorry."
"I meant Rowle and Malfoy." I should just say yes.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Well then get ready for bed. You are sleeping here with me tonight. Tomorrow night you will spend the nights in the Slytherin boy dorm… unless I say otherwise."