Night could not come quickly enough for Harry. The dull ache in his head that had started earlier that day was now a steady throb. Harry wasn't sure whether it was his scar or the company that he was keeping – either way Harry was pleased to lie down. Harry tried to practice clearing his mind but his headache and Ron snoring didn't help.

Just as Harry was finally about to fall asleep; he felt a gentle tug in his mind.

'Hello,' Harry sleepily called out.

'Hello, Harry,' came the reply.

'Tom?'

'Yes, Harry,' Tom chuckled.

Now completely awake again Harry said, 'did you find Severus? Is he Ok?'

Tom paused before answering, 'he will be – when we finally found him, he was not in a good state – but he should be up and around in a couple of days when he is he will go back and I will call him as you suggested.'

Harry sighed with relief, 'thank goodness, tell him 'hi' from me.'

The spluttering started again from Tom's end.

'Do you think that I, the Dark Lord have nothing better to do with me time than play message boy to you.' Tom roared.

'Oh hush, Tom – was there something that you wanted as I really need to get some sleep – I have a stonking headache.'

'Really, that is interesting I have been busy planning raid as you requested it will take place tomorrow lunch time. It will be in a very public place.'

'Will it get reported to the Goblins?'

'I can make sure that it is and the newspaper.'

'That will be good. How quickly will the 'will' take to be read after your announcement? Is there anything else that has to be done?'

'I don't think so it should go through literally like magic.'

''Dumb as a door' gave me some papers to sign, I am under pressure to sign them as soon as possible, I have looked them over briefly and they appear (if I am reading this right) to give him access to my parent's accounts to claim 'reasonable expenses'. The other to say that as I am under his protection that he can do what he feels is best with me and my money.'

'Try and stall for as long as you can, I know how manipulative he can be.'

'If you are on the raid tomorrow there is a good chance that I will be out of it as it is. I have no doubt that as soon as he realizes that you are in Diagon Alley that he will be there as well. That should buy me some time. All that I have to do is to keep out of his way until then.'

Tom 'hummed'.

'Should I send you a potion to knock you out?'

'Would the Weasley's be able to sense it as it passes the wards?'

'It is a possibility.'

'I don't think that we should risk it then.'

'How quickly do you think that the Goblins will take to react to your news? What will happen afterwards?'

'I would imagine that as soon as I say the words, the old magic that Dumbledore is using will break and the 'will', will automatically flash something up in Gringotts. Considering who you are and what has happened there is a chance that a representative will come to the house.'

'OK – I must make sure that I am able to speak to him, otherwise someone that we both 'love to hate' could send him away.'

'Actually it might work in your favour if you are incapacitated. If you were, a Goblin might feel that he should take you into protective custody, particularly if someone were to mention irregularity's in the accounts.'

'I believe that Lucius has business in the bank before the raid,' Tom finished.

'Thank you,' said Harry.

After a couple of minutes comfortable silence Harry asked, 'why are you trying to kill muggleborns and half bloods?'

Tom was shocked, 'I'm not,' he said. 'I believe that the so called 'muggleborn's' are actually the children of squibs that were banished the muggle world by the families several generations back.'

'And to kill half bloods would be a bit hypercritical wouldn't it!'

'I believe that magical children that have non-magical parents should be offered a magical basic education at an earlier age. For example, a summer school or a Saturday school! They could be taught the basics that pureblooded children – or even those with a magical parent that is brought up in our world. An example would be basic Herbology – Customs – Tradition – Potions preparation, to name but a few. The leaflets and booklets that are given out are woefully inadequate.'

'The problem that I have with Muggle born' is the number of people that are told. Family, friends, schools etc! You would not believe the number of memory's that are modified each year because of over exuberant Muggleborn's.

Harry was astonished, 'why was I never told any of this? Why am I the last to know? What leaflets and booklets? I never got any information like that – why didn't Hagrid give it to me?'

'Hagrid, why would he have been involved, only the current teaching staff are allowed to retrieve students to take them shopping.'

'Well, Hagrid came to get me – my Aunt and Uncle were causing a few problems with my receiving my letter. In fact I have to say that it was down to Hagrid that I was so susceptible to Weasley's, 'all Slytherin's are bad.''

Harry paused, 'I might not have argued with the hat quite so much about being placed in Slytherin.'

A choking noise came from Tom. With a slight smile Harry said, 'Night Tom.' asked

Quickly gaining back his dignity Tom asked, 'do you know the prophecy?'

'Yes, Tom.' Harry said quietly. 'Yes, I do know. That pile of crap has cost me more than any one could ever imagine.'

'You don't believe it them?' Tom asked quietly.

'No, and to be perfectly honest about it even if I did believe it, by my interpretation it has come to pass, or very nearly has. You have nothing to worry about Tom. It won't be much longer and even if it is real it has been mitigated.'

'I must get some sleep, Tom; I will try and let you know what is happening tomorrow. Please be careful. The old fool has spent a lot of time making sure that I didn't know about this.'

'When will you tell me?'

'I will explain all that I can, when I am out of here.'

'Very well, I will take your word for it – good night.'

'Night, Tom.'