Harry kept his arms wrapped around Draco the entire train ride, ignoring the sidelong glances sent their way. He would not leave his guardian to deal with the self-righteous bastards in his house alone. He could already see the Parkinson girl eyeing Draco in disgust and made a mental note to watch her. Perhaps he should speak with her father.

Draco stayed quiet, enjoying the silent protection his master offered. As much as he hated this arrangement he knew his master hated it as well and was doing his best to knock some sense into Death and protect the blond. However, Voldemort seemed to be keen on ignoring his master. At this rate Draco would be dead by the time the two made up.

The train stopped and Harry stepped out just behind Draco, sending a sharp glare at the Greengrass sisters ahead of them, the two whispering loudly to each other. They were quick to silence themselves and scurried off to one of the carriages. Harry huffed, pulling Draco into the farthest carriage. Draco surveyed their group, keeping himself tucked against Harry. There were only two others with them, Lovegood and Weasley. Weasley sent a sharp grin his way that had Draco sneering in disdain.

"Should've known you'd be Dark, Potter." Draco felt his master tense, eyes cutting at Weasley.

"Is there a problem?" Harry sat, back rigid, and Draco pulled away from the man. His master had been angry the whole train ride and Weasley had gotten on his final nerve. He just hoped no one started throwing spells.

"You think you're so great! Just because you're the bloody Boy Who Lived!" Draco tuned out the rest of the argument, not caring enough to pay attention. His master wouldn't hurt the mortal, he was merely blowing off steam. Lovegood smiled at him and Draco turned his attention to the Ravenclaw.

"Don't mind Mr. Weasley. The Nargles tell me his mind is curbed." Draco grinned, snickering at the girl. As much as everyone said she was looney, Draco could see the clever mind behind the eccentricities. She was a Ravenclaw after all.

Vaguely he wondered if the Lovegoods were guardians too.

"I'd thought so." His hand shot out to stop his master from fully drawing his wand, finally looking at the man. Harry growled but nodded none the less, drawing Draco back to him. "We should go."

Harry wasted no time in leaving the now still carriage and joining the other students. The march to the Great Hall left him tense as he watched Slytherins sneer at Draco. If this kept on he wouldn't be able to control himself. Draco gave him a soft peck on the cheek before drifting off to his house table and Harry clamped down on the urge to follow the other. Instead he turned towards his own table, sitting down and staring blankly at the plate before him.

"Harry?" Granger gently pat his shoulder, watching her friend in concern. Harry rarely got upset and right now he seemed to be too angry to even speak. Harry sighed. He knew he would have to pull himself together if he wanted to be left alone. Before he could respond to the witch Dumbledore stood to make his yearly speech. Harry frowned at the man. He still hadn't figured out what was taken from him and the whispers were stronger than ever when he was around. Tom seemed to hate the mere mention of him.

Harry was snapped from his thoughts when a woman in all pink interrupted the headmaster. It should have been amusing but the horrid screeching of her song left Harry sick. How could she live with such a disgusting song? He didn't seem to be the only one affected by her presence as most of the students and staff frowned at the woman. Harry hoped he would be rid of her soon.

There were a few bright sides to the year as Harry spent another semester at Hogwarts. Severus had come to him, pledging his loyalty to him and swearing to protect Draco from any attacks from his housemates. Harry appreciated the sentiment and approved of the loyalty the man had to Draco.

Remus had come later, full of questions and growls and Harry had nearly laughed at how much the wolf strained at his soul. Remus tried to be normal. Told him of Sirius's health and the newest book he had read and Harry drank in the sight. Never had he met a wolf so determined to be average. He had relieved the man of course, answering his unspoken questions and letting him know the truth. Remus had been shocked, it's not everyday one learns that your godson has been the Master of Death since the beginning of time. But Remus took everything in stride and when Severus came back to give him a report on Draco and Voldemort's well-being Harry subtly pushed the two together. Severus's lovesick song was becoming tiresome. He could hear the faint curiosity and surprise coming from Remus as the two left him and suppressed a smile. He could already hear wedding bells.

However the year still managed to grow worse as Harry watched everything rot around him. He knew the others were hurting still Draco but the guardian hadn't told him. Hadn't even mentioned it. Not to him or Severus. It was upsetting to think of his guardian taking abuse at the hands of his peers silently. He wanted to intervene, but he also didn't want to make things worse for Draco.

To make things worse being near Umbridge was making him physically ill. He'd spent more time in the infirmary than he wanted to because of her song. It was horrid. Every note left him nauseous and Harry knew something would have to done about that woman fast.

Dumbledore also kept showing him memories of Voldemort when he was young. His pet had been so young and ambitious and alone and it was driving Harry mad. He knew what the man was trying to do, what he was trying to show him and Harry hated it. He would never destroy his pet's horcruxes. He loved each and every bit of his soul, no matter how tattered. The thought of horcruxes turned his mind back to his troublesome pet. At least he still had Tom. He still had his pet's diary. Tom was a comfort where Draco could not be. A faint shade of his pet that helped fill the void.

Voldemort continued to be obtuse, refusing to even acknowledge Harry anymore and instead focusing all of his attention on his raids. Harry frowned at the thought of all of the killings happening at his pet's hands. The balance was being disturbed.

Which brought him back to his earlier dilemma. The Prophecy.

Everyone seemed to think the Prophecy meant death. That he would have to kill his pet to restore balance. Even Tom had assumed as much. Did they all think he could ever harm his pet so severely? Harry could never bring himself to end his pet, even on a momentary basis. If Voldemort would just submit than Harry could take control and fix the mess the man had made without any bloodshed.

He just wanted things to be normal again.