He stood at the edge or the astronomy tower, it seamed forever ago that he had first come here. It was here where he had always been at home... Those times had passed. This was no longer his home. All he wanted was a way out of this place (a place so like a prison to him), and out of this world, but most of all, out of his life.

In his year away, he had discovered so much about the world around him. He had always said that he wanted to be an Auror, because that is what people had expected him to be... had wanted him to be. However, no, it was not what he would like to do; he would never find happiness in that. How could he after years of fighting against death eaters as it was.

He did not like death... He did not want to spend his life hunting down criminals, working for a ministry who were corrupt enough, that they would send people to prison without a trial. No, he wanted to do something worthwhile with his life.
Then there was the whole issue with Zar... He did not know what to do about that. He cared for Zar deeply but... He was not so sure about the whole soul mate thing.

He remembered when Zar had told him about the horcrux's. How it was originally suppose to be that to make a horcrux, you had to cut apart your soul. Then when regaining the other half later in life, said other half would take it upon its self to find another body and mix with the other person's soul. Then they would be your soul mate. A horcrux was a way to make sure that you lived long enough to find your soul mate. Though he was not sure wether your soul mate is the person your other half mixes with or if the mixing of souls is what cases them to be your soul mate.
Therefore, Harry was Slytherin, or at least part of his soul was. What Harry was not sure of was if he loved Zar because of the horcrux or if he would have loved him anyway. He did not want anything else running his already complicated life.

"Harry?"

he froze, he hadn't know she was there, he had been lost in his thoughts and it felt as if he had been back home for just a few minutes, why did she have to come and ruin it all?

"What is it Mi?" he asked.

She looked at him sadly thought he did not know for he did not turn to face her. She heard the sorrow in his voice, the pure loneliness that she felt coming off him made her shiver as if cold.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to talk later... we haven't really talked since you got back." you could hear the want... need to know what he had been doing in her voice.

"No Hermione i don't. There is not really much to talk about. I went away for training that's all, nothing more or less." he stated in a monotone,
"you cant say that nothing happened while you where gone, why else would you have changed so much?" she glared but then turned to her calm normal voice. She could see. She was not blind like everyone else. "I can see that it's hurting you, being here again, and being away from him... you don't have to pretend that you're okay all the time."

Harry did not know what to say. How could Hermione know so much and yet so little?

"You didn't think i knew did you?" she asked softly. "The others may not have noticed, but it was almost obvious that you where only staring at cho when cedric was right next to her." she knew a lot more than Harry had given her credit for, and yet he knew that she would be the first to figure it out.
He turned around to face her "Hermione... I... -" he didnt know what to say
"no Harry, I can't stand by and watch you do this to yourself... i know that you've been practicing the dark arts."

Of course, that is what she would think she of all people would have studied how to tell if some one knew the dark arts.

"The dark arts are nothing to be fooling with!"

"It's all in the way that you hold your wand? Am i right mi?" harry said

she just glared at him. "Yes i know the dark arts mi" harry told her calmly returning to his almost monotonous voice from before. "My instructor taught me, that and much more, from the lightest magic of healing to the darkest unforgivable, blood magic and runes, daggers and swords. everything." his eyes twinkled at the thought of all the magic that he now knew all the things that pushed him to the edge or what he could take.

"You've gone dark then?" she asked almost hesitantly.

"What is 'dark' Hermione? if there is one thing that i would have to say is the most important thing i learned while i was gone it would be that its not the magic but the intent behind it that makes the person what thay are." he paused now looking her in the eyes "but yes my magic is dark, it always has been."

"And what is your intent now? what has changed from before... because your not the person you use to be, its like i don't know you anymore." she begged, she had to know what had changed her friend so much that he was no longer as close to her as he had been.

"My intent is the same as always… to end the war with as little death as possible, the only difference is that now I'm not going to walk the path that has been set for me; I'm going to win this war my way. I am sick of people playing with my life, and i am sick of them all thinking thay know whatsss bessst for me, i know what isss besst for me! I can take care of myssself i have been for my whole life.

"I thought we talked about this harry..."

both of the teens jumped at the new arrival's voice, not having realized that he was there. Hermione just looked scared to death, where harry had drawn his wand and was holding it in a classic dark arts defensive form.

"Zar" harry said looking away and lowering his wand "why did you come here?"

"is it not enough for me to have simply missed you?" he asked teasingly
harry smiled just barely but Zar could see through his mask." maybe you should introduce me to your friend… hmm?"

Harry nodded but didnt say anything. He just stared at Zar. Not even a week and he had already missed his mate so much. he just wanted Zar to make lo...'harry' Zar's voice hissed across his mind making harry realise that he was looking over Zar's form. Harry blushed slightly
"oh yah this is Zar he was my instructor while i was gone. Zar this is my best friend Hermione." harry rushed.

Hermione's lips formed a silent oh and Zar smiled playfully at harry. Then he turned to Hermione. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you Miss. Granger, i have heard much about you and i must thank you for keeping harry out of trouble as often as you have, it is an honour to have meet such a bright young witch as yourself." he said taking her hand and placing a small kiss upon it.

Hermione blushed and gave a stammered "thank you"

"miss. granger if it isn't to much to ask would you please give me a few minutes to talk with harry, there are some things that i must discuss with him privately." he 'asked' politely

Hermione nodded and turned to open the trap door to the stairs below.

..

"Raven...." Zar whispered wrapping his arms around his mate. "i don't want you to ever sssay that again..." he pleaded." jussst becaussse you can take care of your ssself dosssnt mean that you have to do everything by yourssself. Let me take care of you my raven..." he whispered in the language that only thay and one other could understand. "Let me help"

thanks lots jgooulliyette

would have never got the chapter up without your help ^^