Chapter 18: Advancing the Campaign

What has Fudge been doing since the first Death Eater attack in London? He's denied any possible return of You-Know-Who, the supposedly-deceased leader of the murderous rioters, though it has been suggested that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has been gaining strength and influence in the Wizarding underbelly of Britain. Dark magic is starting to surface, and similarities have been drawn out to how these events match His rise from decades ago. But this is inconsequential to Cornelius Fudge, he is firmly in denial. There are no problems if he's right, but what happens if he is wrong?

We finally see a politician who doesn't flat out deny the return. Marvolo Slytherin, the new-found heir to Salazar Slytherin's legacy, is working his way to power pretty quickly, but he says that You-Know-Who may return and has prepared a contingency plan that just needs the approval of the Wizengamot. For a young wizard of only 20 years old, not much has been expected from him, but many members of the Wizengamot have stated that the bill is very well thought out and could help many in the wizarding community if the minister and Chief Warlock would pass it. Dolores Umbridge, close associate to the Minister and rumoured to be the next Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts this year, has been witnessed to try and convince Fudge of the usefulness of the bill, regardless of his beliefs over whether people were right or not.

Marvolo Slytherin, frustrated by no support being provided against these attacks, has gone a step further for victims already suffering the dark regime of the Death Eaters. Throughout the summer, he has visited many suffering in St. Mungo's and used funding from the Boy-Who-Lived to repair housing for attacks. The two have been seen together, they seem to be very close. Images have been captured of their relationship, laughing together with the homeless children in Surry, Harry Potter spotting paint on our young politician's nose as they painted a memorial fence to those lost in the more violent attacks. In a quick interview, the young male said that the projects were Slytherin's idea, he wanted to show support and courage for those fearing further attacks. Harry Potter personally believes that he's the best option for our society, and only speaks highly of the man. Sounds romantic to me.

"Tom seems to be doing well," Neville grinned, laughing at the images of us in the newspaper. "And it helps that Umbridge supports him, she'll be able to rival Dumbledore."

"It was a hassle to explain to Sirius, considering Marvolo Slytherin is also my boyfriend Tom. But I told them he kept his name a secret because of the Slytherin thing." I frowned. "But Dumbledore keeps telling me I should stay away from him, or watch my back around him, but not why. He sees the man I love as someone manipulating me and wanting to kill me and said nothing. Prick."

People all over the train were talking about the article. Marvolo was pretty popular, the girls either loved me or hated me for being so close to him in our pictures. They thought we looked adorable together, the cutest couple or I was lucky to know someone as hot as Tom and they were jealous they weren't as lucky. Nobody considered we were only friends, which I didn't mind because we weren't just friends. It kept other skanks away from him. I was certain that I'd flip if I thought any other woman was going near him. I trusted him to go against it, but for someone to put their hands on him would make me cut their hand off. I wouldn't even feel bad about it.

I spent the journey in a compartment with Neville. Draco came through partway through to apologise for filling my head with stupid shit. He looked a little scared, so I guessed Tom had punished him somehow for being loose-lipped. Being the romantic partner to a Dark Lord gave me a power I hadn't consider. I could ask Tom to kill someone's family because they disrespected me at school and he probably would. The darker my thoughts and attitudes, the more attached to me he seemed to get. It was like he was letting himself get closer to me, I was evil like him so I had no reason to turn on him or leave. I was past the point of leaving him.

"Neville, do you think I should have left Tom when I realised who he was? Instead of turning like this?"

He scoffed. He didn't think I could have left Tom if I wanted to, I'd have been locked in a basement if I'd tried. But he prefered me as I was, he thought I was a stronger person. I handled the newspapers asking for quotes on Tom, I handled how other people looked at our potential relationship, I was more confident about everything. It made me feel warm to have him realise such a big change when I have no idea. But as I thought back to my multiple dealings with the Weasleys over the summer, I had to agree with him. It seemed Ronald wasn't going to stop trying to be my friend. He was always trying to talk to me, and it annoyed me enough to consider asking Tom to kill his mother to shut him up.

"Never know, maybe he doesn't want to be friends." Neville smirked, "Dumbledore may want his to seduce you to keep you away from Tom."

The idea had us wetting our pants. Dumbledore ran the order, he was powerful and had influence in the world that was hassling Tom. If the best plan he could make with all his intelligence was to have Ron flirt with me, then there was no hope for the light in this war. Not without them shaking their way out from under the old fart. Like I had. I hoped Sirius and Remus would care about me enough to leave a sinking ship like my best friend sat across from me.

"Thank you, Neville." I smiled," for sticking with me, changing sides, when I'm doing it for a guy."

Neville's chuckles didn't stop, "Oh shut up. What else would I do for my best friend's happiness?"

He came when I was alone. Neville was studying with Professor Snape, not being given a break for the school year, and the other boys sleeping in my dorm were in the Common Room socialising. It was just me in the room, unpacking my trunk so it would be easier to organise. My back was to the door and I didn't assume the door opening would mean a risk so I kept it that way. I wasn't alarmed until I felt a breath on my neck.

"It's been harder than I thought to get you alone."

My skin crawled. I turned to turn but arms reached around to squeeze my waist, locking my back to someone's chest. The voice was whispered and husky, I couldn't recognise it. Lips pressed under my ear. I fought against the arms but they just held me tighter. They nibbled my earlobe. I forced my way out of their grip, shoving them back so they toppled onto the bed beside mine. Ron flailed, glaring at me.

"What is your problem mate?" He scowled.

I wanted to laugh, I wanted to hex him seriously bad. I wanted to use an unforgivable on the creep who tried to grab at me so forcefully and accuses me of having a problem when he's sexually harassing me. I hissed that he had better explain what was passing between his three brain cells to make him attack me. He looked genuinely surprised, but that angered me more. What was my problem? What the fuck was his problem? The crazy bastard. I called on my wand and threatened him with it, drawing him back to his senses.

"Look, I'm only trying to help. Dumbledore said I needed to get you away from that Slytherin-guy, that he was bad news. I'm looking out for you mate."

"And was biting my ear your idea or his?" I sneered.

He looked away. The answer screamed from his eyes, he wanted to be kissing Hermione's neck and ear, not mine. The old prick had sent the kid I used to think was my best friend, my rock, to take me away from the only person who made me happy by forcing himself on me? Where was his logic, where was his sanity? It was escaping him in his old age, clearly. And I wasn't going to let him get away with it.

My wand jabbed itself under Weasley's chin, pushing pressure against his pulse. I ordered him to stand, and if he didn't want a world of pain or to lose another member of his family, then he'd repeat every word of that plan to Professor Umbridge. She was a bristle bitch that had taken quite the dislike to me for humouring Tom's idea that Voldemort might have returned, but her hate for Dumbledore was as strong as mine. She and the Minister knew he'd resurrected the Order of the Phoenix, but without a Dark Lord to believe in, he was paranoid enough to think they wanted to overthrow him. And hearing he's capable of setting students against each other is hardly a good thing for a Headmaster. I can knock him off his pedestal and lower public opinion, all things positive for Tom right now. It would be the best way to apologise for being stupid over Bellatrix and his loyalty to me, and the best way to show loyalty to him.

A/N: Crap, but I'm trying. My mental health is not what it used to be, motivation to do anything other than breath is hard to find these days, but I've updated. Prepare for a steady decline because I'm under the impression that everything I do is shit :)