When looking up towards the head table, Harry had yet to see concerned faces, but then again, not all professors ate their breakfast here. Still, the empty chair filled him with sadistic glee. Lessons went on like normal, but when the first break came, there were already whispers about the toad's absence. When Hermione commented on it, Harry just shrugged and ate his breakfast in silence, ignoring the questions that arose around him.

It wasn't till the evening that the other teachers had caught wind of the rumors, and McGonagall, Flitwick and Dumbledore were having a heated discussion. Then, halfway through dinner, the doors of the hall opened and five wild-looking centaurs barged through the doors of the Great Hall. They looked livid and Harry admired their acting skills. Their muscles trembled with anger and every face was contorted in a grimace. A grey centaur stormed forward and threw a bundle on the stone floor, which made a strange dull thudding sound.

"We tolerate you near out forest, inside our territory, we respect your laws and hold no grudge towards your kind, but let this be an example of what happens when you disrespect us!" he thundered, and his voice echoed through the silent room, every one of its occupants too shocked to speak.

Dumbledore rose, his face pale and his eyes filled with non-understanding. He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture and addressed the centaurs. "Please, be calm and explain. What angered you so?"

"One of yours trampled into our forest, shouting insults and when we showed ourselves, it only became worse! Our way of life, our kind, our ancestors and our abilities were verbally slaughtered. Magic, offensive magic was used against us!" he said, prancing. His hooves landed on the stone with a loud clanking sound, and Harry thought that the centaur might even start snorting. "let this be a lesson that we won't be mocked with, you inferior creatures!" after that, he turned and stormed through the still open doors, the other four horse-men following him.

Immediately, tumult broke loose and Snape, being the first to compose himself, got up and walked around the head table to approach the bundle. He flapped the cloth open and paled, but didn't show any other reaction. Quickly, he covered the body again and mouthed something to Dumbledore, who gripped the edge of the table until his knuckles turned white.

"Everyone, go back to your dorms." He finally said with a shaky voice.

Harry knew that for once, he could use his status, because being the Boy-Who-Lived and Dumbledore's 'favourite', he could get away with staying and asking what was going on. Even though he'd completely lost his trust in Dumbledore, the man still trusted him to be loyal. Or perhaps not so much anymore, but this could very well be the perfect opportunity to regain that trust… He lingered behind and, when the majority was gone, walked up to the headmaster. Snape's mouth became a thin line which told Harry that the man might need another 'nice talk' with him and Marvolo, but at least the man didn't speak up or try to stop him.

"Professor… what happened?" he asked with fake-concern, which sounded so real that he secretly applauded himself, while he tried his best not to cackle.

"Harry… my boy, we are faced with a grave situation… I never thought they would be capable of something like this but… they murdered professor Umbridge. It appears that not the only threat comes from Voldemort…" Dumbledore said, obviously afraid.

"Won't the Ministry do something about it?"

"If they know, they will probably execute all the centaurs. If not, nothing will happen, but I don't know if I can justify that to myself. According to their own laws, the centaurs stood in their right, but…"

"But not to ours." Harry finished, nodding.

"Exactly. I'm glad you understand."

Harry pensively gazed at the body, getting an idea. "Can't you try talking to them, while informing the Ministry of an 'unfortunate accident'? I know it is not the noblest thing to do, but it might be better for the school. Of course, I'm not the one to make such a decision but…" He trailed off, carefully observing Dumbledore's reaction. The old man's eyes flashed up with something, and a small smile formed on his lips. "Well… I think I should go." Harry said.

"Yes, do that Harry. I think I know what to do already. You have my thanks."

"No problem, really…" Without wasting anymore words, he turned and left the Hall. From one of the dark corners, Eyolf smirked and mentally complimented the teen before he too left. Some kids had pulled a prank on a first-year… he looked forward to their detention.


It's a conspiracy!" Fudge shouted in both anger and panic to his empty office. He'd wanted to control the life at Hogwarts, keep an eye on Dumbledore and try to pull Harry Potter more to the Ministry instead of having him blindly following the headmaster, but that all was ruined in mere days. Dead. Dolores Umbridge was dead. "Unfortunate accident" he muttered, throwing the letter on his desk and glared at it. He'd sent one of his best co-workers to Hogwarts and she ended up dead by 'accident'? As if he'd believe that.

Still, there was little he could do. The first time he had called on the board of the school to fire Dumbledore, now almost three years ago, it had failed horribly and backfired on top of that. When there had been a dangerous animal, two years ago, it broke loose and disappeared before a ministry-worker could execute it, and Black had also slipped through his fingers on the Hogwarts grounds. In other words: Hogwarts was trouble, and till now, his plans to infiltrate it hadn't been very successful. He needed someone stronger… someone who could stand up against the staff there. Not a diplomat this time, but a fighter… it was time to play his ace.


"After this, he'll feel threatened." Marvolo stated, tapping absentmindedly with his fingers on the armrest of his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "I know Fudge. He might be an idiot, but he is also stubborn. He won't give up, and he'll try the same tactic as before. Send someone he trusts to Hogwarts. Only this time, he'll choose someone stronger. And if I know him well enough, then the death of the woman won't let him rest until he knows for sure that he has sent the best."

"And who will that be?" Harry asked, leaning back, letting his head rest on his lover's knees.

They were both in the living room that was part of Marvolo's quarters in Hogwarts, the former Room of Requirement, now full-time occupied by the Dark Lord's chambers. How the man did it to make it remain the same all of the time, Harry didn't know. Probably some magic which he didn't even want to know the theoretical basis of. The teen moved a bit until his back was fully pressed against Marvolo's legs. It might be not the most comfortable place, but he didn't mind, and hummed when cold fingers began to thread through his hair. He closed his eyes, fully concentrating on the feeling for a moment.

"He has a branch of elite fighters. Not the Aurors. He doesn't trust most of his Aurors, since a lot of them have been loyal to Dumbledore in the past, and he doesn't know who of them he can trust. Not that he outwardly shows that of course… It is one of the sole things he's right in with his conspiracy theories. It is full of Dumbledore's men. Always has been."

"So this fighter department… what exactly is it?"

"They are veteran fighters. People who have already proven themselves. They are the elite, who got their experience on the battlefield instead of by training. Fudge uses them as guards for himself and other important people, or to eliminate enemies of the Ministry. There is one thing, however, that has escaped his attention."

Harry turned and looked up to the man. "They're all your men, aren't they?"

"Precisely. Second Circle, so Dumbledore doesn't know of them yet."

"Did you plan for this to happen before you killed Umbridge?"

"Always think twelve steps in advance, Harry. Always."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'd wished to do this later… and when I decided to kill her, I was a bit too occupied by my thoughts of revenge."

"So… do I know any of these fighters?"

"I believe you spoke to them at your first meeting. Oh, and one of them, Ryder Dusk, had trouble with Greyback's pack the meeting after that. Why do you think I risked displeasure from Greyback, an Alpha? Losing Winter Howls is nothing compared to losing the absolute loyalty of an Ef. –Fudge's abbreviation for the Elite Fighters-."

"Who do you think he will send?"

"The one I appoint, of course." Marvolo said, smiling thinly. "The Efs have a certain… freedom. Like me, the Ministry does not want to lose them, and therefore, they are allowed to run themselves. When Fudge gives them a task, they decide who takes it. More than half of the Efs are under my command, so in the end, it is I who appoint them their missions."

"So in reality, Fudge hands over his most important force to his enemy? That's rich."

"That's one way of stating it. Now, Dusk is too valuable to spend a year here. I need him on missions with his pack. The demon twins are better together, and I'd rather not set one of those loose on this school… There might be more deaths than can be covered up…" Marvolo smirked.

"If by 'demon twins' you mean Devaki and Dyanira, then I absolutely agree." Harry laughed. "Devaki was the one who gave me a lesson. Man, I'd rather not have her as a teacher three times a week. "

"Thought so."

"I'd send Sameer." Harry suddenly said.

"Sameer Atiyeh? Excellent choice. May I ask why?"

"He is composed, calculated. I got the idea that he thinks things through without rushing. He's also a good leader. It looked like he kind of held the group together. You don't plan for us to remain on Hogwarts much longer, do you?"

"No." Marvolo admitted. "I'd wanted to give you more time for your education and friends, but the war must escalate soon, preferably right after I have obtained Dumbledore's memories and have the necessary information. It depends on what I will find whether or not I must first finish him. I'd rather not, though. I want to disgrace him first… Otherwise he'll die a martyr and we can't have that. I'm sure there will be the necessary blackmail material in his memories. From what I have gathered, he had a rather murky past. Either way, the quiet days will soon be over."

"Someone must take over Hogwarts after you're through with Dumbledore. Sameer would be a good choice. It will give the Ministry a safe feeling, and the Order doesn't know he is a Death eater. With Eyolf lurking in the shadows, and Sameer Headmaster, Hogwarts would be as good as ours."

"It is decided then." The Dark Lord said.

"What about my task with Draco? I haven't even had time to make a start with that."

"I'll tell him to work on it alone. You concentrate on Dumbledore. What you did with Umbridge's death was good. The old man trusts you more now."

"That was my intention… Marvolo? Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"You always say that power is just that, power. That it is our actions which make us good or evil…"

"Yes, and?"

"What we did to her, using our powers… does that make us evil?"

"Perhaps. It depends how you look at it. Depends on how you perceive your own deed. The killing and torturing on itself, without context, is undeniably evil, yes. But to myself, I could justify it. She tortured you, and there is no doubt that she would have done that to more students. She has done horrible things in the past. We rid the world of her. Is that bad?"

"I don't regret it, but I don't think it was good either. The method we used at least."

"I never said that I wasn't evil Harry. Actually, I warned you for it. But you know better than anyone that that is not the only word I can be defined with. There are more sides to me. The same goes for you, or Dumbledore, or anyone else, really. We fight for what we believe in while trying to protect the ones we love. I just like using crude, fast methods over years of political maneuvering to get what I want. If that makes me evil, so be it. However, my side, and my goal, are not."

"I understand. I just wonder how I want to go about reaching it. I always thought myself good. But what we did yesterday… that felt better than anything, although in my head, I know it wasn't. Maybe I am more evil than I thought."

"Probably. But remember that you always have a choice in this Harry. You can choose whether or not you want to do evil things. Do what you want, without being held back by the norm. I never did, and I ended up being the most powerful wizard alive, and immortal to boot. I would never have reached that if I hadn't pushed my own limits and broken them, instead of listening to others telling me what my limits should be. To telling me what is good to do and what not. And Harry?" he added on a soft tone.

"Yes?" The teen whispered, thinking about Marvolo's words.

"If everyone else turns their back on you, because they don't understand… remember then, that you'll always have me. For I will never turn my back on you. This, I promise, whatever you'll decide to do with your life."

Moved, Harry got to his feet and sat down on Marvolo's lap, wrapping his arms around the man's neck. He leaned closer until their lips were almost connected. "And I'll always be here for you too, no matter what others will say about you."

"I know." The man answered, looking into Harry's bright green eyes. "And I love you all the more for it."


Sighing inwardly, Sameer followed the panicking Fudge with his eyes. He tuned out the ranting of the man and thought back to the one-on-one meeting he'd had with his Lord yesterday evening. It seemed like an interesting task, teaching Defense at Hogwarts. He smiled at the thought of seeing the Potter boy again. Devaki hadn't been able to stop cooing over the poor teen. Or maybe not so poor, considering that Potter now had more back-up then he ever could have dreamt of. He still couldn't fathom how the boy had ever ended up with the Dark Lord, but he figured that their romantic interests were none of his business.

"And thus, I will give your team the task of infiltrating Hogwarts." Fudge ended his speech. Sameer looked up to him without any trace of emotion showing on his face.

"I'll do it myself." He softly said, and the Minister blinked twice.

"Oh. Alright." He said, obviously surprised. "Don't you need to… discuss this with the rest?"

"Not necessary. We've already spoke about it." With satisfaction, he saw that he'd thrown Fudge off balance, although he knew the man would only feel safer if he would go himself instead of sending another Ef. After all, he'd worked often for Fudge, even before and before the man had become Minister.

"But this means you already knew?"

"We also have… informants." He said with a thin smile, and once again, he was glad for the freedom they'd been given. As a result of that, Dyanira and Devaki were off on a mission for the Dark instead of guarding two members of the Wizengamot, as they should, according to Fudge. Not that it made a difference. Those paranoid members weren't even worth the attention of their Lord, so they were safe nonetheless.

"Right. You'll be send there tomorrow then. Will this be alright by you?"

"Tomorrow is fine. Preferably in the evening."

"Good. I'll have the instructions you need to follow regarding lessons here." He said, and handed Sameer a few sheets of paper. The Death Eater allowed a vague smile to cross his face as he mentally set it aflame.

"I'll be on my way then." Sameer spoke and got up. "Expect my report in a week." The door slammed close before the Minister could answer, and Sameer walked away with a grin on his face. Around the corner, Alain awaited him.

"And?"

"Got the job." He answered, and his friend nodded.

"Have fun with it."

"Oh, I think I will." Sameer said. "Although I don't think I will follow the Ministry's lesson method."

Alain laughed and slapped his back. "I'm sure the kids will be glad…"


"Whoah! What in the name of Merlin!" Ron screamed, scrambling back and paling a few shades.

"Hey guys! Don't worry, he's honestly very sweet!" Harry cheerfully said, while Dean and Seamus could only gape as he scratched the scales on the head of the twelve-feet long boa constrictor.

"Uhm, Harry… sweet?"

"Yeah!" ~You won't bite, right?~

~I told you already that I wouldn't.~ Arzòn hissed.

"I saved him from a zoo when I was ten, just before I came to Hogwarts. He won't hurt you."

"That's… kinda cool." Dean finally managed to utter. "And well… everything is better than that giant tarantula Lee Jordan brought to school a few years ago."

"Or Hagrid's 'cute beasties.'" Ron agreed. "I forgot you could talk to snakes by the way. Haven't heard you hissing in your sleep for a while. It sounds weird, you know… and it definitely changed my perception of snakes. It really won't bite our heads off?"

"Nah."

"Can I touch it?"

~He wants to touch you.~ Harry said, amused.

~I heard. Strange humans. He can go ahead.~

"You can, but you might want to say 'he' instead of 'it'. He can understand human language a bit."

~Learned it from the zoo.~ Arzòn proudly said. ~Didn't really have anything else to do there.~

"What's he saying?" Seamus asked, relaxing a bit. The answer was never voiced, for a loud, high-pitched scream came from the doorway, and the boys saw a blur the size and posture of Neville flee down the stairs.

"Oh-oh." Ron smirked. "I think there's one person here who doesn't agree with your new choice of pet Harry… Besides, is it even allowed to have a snake?"

"Yes. They don't encourage it of course, but it's not forbidden." Another voice said, and they all turned to see Marvolo –or rather Thanos- sitting on the windowsill.

"How the hell did you get there?" Harry asked surprised.

"I have my ways." The crooked smirk that followed was all the answer Harry needed further. Marvolo slid to the floor and walked over to his boyfriend, giving Harry a soft peck on the lips. Arzòn suddenly froze and then lashed out before anyone could stop him.

~Marvolo! Arzòn, stop!~ Harry screamed, but the snake didn't listen, and its teeth hit the Dark lord's skin. Then, something unexpected happened. The snake suddenly looked as if in pain, and no blood flowed down Marvolo's arm.

~Ow…~ the snake hissed. ~My teeth. What just happened.. ouch, ouch, that hurts…~ Harry questioningly looked up to his lover.

"Armor charm. A shield charm that lies directly on the skin. Now, why did he attack me?"

"That's what I want to know…" Harry darkly said.

~Why? Why?~ the boa constrictor hissed, his eyes suddenly flashing with anger. ~Why are you betraying your mate? I thought you loved my sister's familiar? Then why…~

~Arzòn, Arzòn, wait…~ Harry began, kneeling down and threading his hand through his hair as he had to explain the situation to the snake. Inwardly, he was sniggering though, when Marvolo got called Nagini's pet… He briefly wondered if the serpent thought of him as a pet also though. ~He may not look like him, but this is Marvolo. He changed his appearance by magic, for these people here regard him as their enemy.~

Arzòn flicked his tongue out, eyeing the man suspiciously. ~He also smells differently.~

~Again, spells. Relax please, yes? Otherwise he probably won't be able to hold in his anger and begin to yell at you, which really isn't a good idea, because no-one can know that he can speak Parseltongue.~

~Why not? They don't have a problem with you speaking either, right?~

~Yes, but there are only two people who can, him and I. If he would speak, then his identity would be revealed. And not to be rude, but why are you so overprotective anyway?~

~Because he asked me to keep other men away.~ The snake hissed, ignoring Marvolo's death glare.

"Did he, now?" Harry said through clenched teeth, equaling the look his lover was throwing at Arzòn.

"What did he do?" Ron said, raising his eyebrows. The other teens had followed the whole hissed conversation with fascination, and were dying of curiousity. They were disappointed though at Harry's answer.

"Something he and I will have a… talk about later. ~I do not appreciate a lack in trust.~ Knowing very well that he wasn't supposed to have understood that last bit, Marvolo chose to settle with a blank look. To break the sudden, awkward tension, Seamus suddenly jumped up.

"I'm gonna reassure Neville. Ya know, calm him down."

"Coming with you." Dean said, and they hurried away.

"Yeah… I believe I have to take a shower. See you later mate." Ron mumbled, and walked past them, but not before curiously stroking the scales on top of Arzòn's head.

~I like that one.~ He hissed, and slithered away, leaving the two lovers alone.

"So." Harry said with a glare, crossing his arms. He felt a mental wave of reassurance, but shook it off. He wasn't about to forgive the man that fast. Marvolo sighed and sat on the bed.

"It's not what you think."

"Really? So you did not tell Arzòn without first telling me that he is partly here to chase other men away? Don't you trust me?"

"Perhaps I should have said, it's not why you think." Marvolo dryly said. "Harry, I trust you. Really, I do. It's the rest of the world that I don't trust. And well… while I've been here, at Hogwarts, I've seen quite a lot people staring at you in a way that I did not like."

"I can protect myself." Harry huffed.

"Yes. Against students. It is not them I'm worried about either. But, so many others might get… interested in you in the future. More powerful men. I'd hate myself if I hadn't taken care of at least some extra protection."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I knew that, regardless of the reason, you wouldn't like it."

"You're right, I don't. And I don't see me telling Nagini to fight of your other suitors." The teen said on a crabby tone.

"What suitors? Harry, there is no-one who wants me. And then again, I am the Dark Lord. There is not even one imbecile out there who will get it in his stupid head to try and get me forcefully."

"So that's it?" Harry asked, finally calming down somewhat. "You're afraid that I would be whisked away by someone who would… force me?"

"Well, I'd certainly hope you wouldn't go with someone else voluntarily… but I already said I trusted you to not do that." He added when seeing that his lover was about to protest. "Come, sit with me."

Still somewhat annoyed that Marvolo hadn't asked his permission for this, but also oddly touched, he sat down on the bed, in between Marvolo's legs, with his back to his lover's chest. He leaned back until his head touched a shoulder, which wasn't quite as bony or cold as he liked. "I hate this disguise of yours." He commented, sad.

"Silly boy." Marvolo smiled, dropping a kiss on Harry's cheek, and wrapped his arms around him. "We're good?"

"Yeah." Harry sighed. "Just… tell me next time, kay?"

"I promise. Now, for something completely different: You need more allies in the school here. I was thinking of initiating the Weasley Twins tomorrow or the day after." Marvolo spoke after casting a silencing charm around them. Harry wondered why he even bothered. If people could listen in now, they could have listened in before as well.

"I can tell them after breakfast."

"That's fine with me. I will give you a portkey and a note to hand to them. I expect you in my rooms that same evening. Come as quick as you can so we have time to talk about the details." Harry nodded, only slightly surprised. He wondered how the initiation would be. "Now, I'll go. Goodnight."

"Can't I come with you?" Harry asked. It wasn't really that he was in the mood to do anything but sleep, but suddenly he really yearned for Marvolo to hold him, to feel his real arms around him; long, hard and icy to the touch, instead of this fake body.

"Won't you be missed?"

"They'll understand." Harry said, a faint smile ghosting over his lips.

"Then come." Harry was curious to know why they walked to the window, and looked at his lover with a rather doubtful expression as the man climbed on the windowsill again and held out his hand. "Trust me." Marvolo whispered, and he let himself be pulled through the window. For a moment, his heart leaped into his chest as they fell, and he closed his eyes tightly, expecting harsh ground any moment, but then something clawed at him, threw him back up in the air again, and he landed rather undignified on something hard, scaly and moving.

"What…" he said, surprised, and dared to open his eyes when there were no other sounds heard than the wind and the flapping of wings. He nearly fell again, just from the shock, for he sat on a small, black dragon, and he quickly grabbed the sharp, one foot long spike in front of him, He could only barely reach it, for he sat on the dragon's back, and the last spike was situated on the base of the neck of the creature. Slowly, he calmed down enough to wonder about what had happened exactly. Marvolo had, as soon as he'd heaved Harry up the windowsill, jumped out of it… and then… no. Impossible. The black dragon lazily flapped his wings, slowing down but rising higher, until finally, they soared on the wind, and Harry got a déjà vu feeling. It reminded him of the time he'd flown with Buckbeak, although he had to admit that this was easier. Smoother.

"Marvolo?" he hesitantly asked, but the sound of his voice got lost in the wind. They circled high above the castle, and then flew away from it. The shock Harry was waiting for when passing the wards of Hogwarts did not come, something which surprised him very much. The dragon gained speed, and the landscape beneath them became nothing more than blurry shadows. Harry admired the way the muscles flexed and the skin trembled under the force of the air that pushed against it. He stroked the scales on the side, leaning a bit more forward. The dragon let out a sigh, and although Harry couldn't see the expression it wore, he knew it was content. Well, he didn't really know if 'it' was appropriate here, for he still had that strange feeling that this dragon might be Marvolo… Was it very wicked of him to think that his lover couldn't have taken a more beautiful form?

Strange, hissing laughter reached his ears, and he blinked, surprised. Done admiring me?

Harry nearly fell of the dragon's back in shock. Marvolo?

Yes, love? I must admit that I am surprised… never thought you'd be in for bestiality…

Harry blushed, not really knowing what the word meant exactly, but the implications in the tone weren't very subtle. I didn't know you could turn into a dragon. He thought, changing the subject. Or, for that matter, that we could communicate like this.

Took me some time, but I managed to open our mind-link further. It also helps that I am in this form. Dragons have a very clear, focused mind.

So… now you think like a dragon?

Not precisely, but I have certain dragonish traits. My body is not the only thing that transformed.

So then this is your Animagus form? It made sense. Sirius had once explained how his mind worked when he was a dog. That he became less human, while still able to think like one. He supposed it must be similar.

Yes, it is.

Where are we going? To the manor?

No. That would be too far. It would take hours to get there. I know of a castle in the mountains here in Scotland. I have an… acquaintance who lives there.

A friend?

Lord Voldemort doesn't have friends. was the grumbled reply.

It's not healthy to speak in third person… one of the signs of insanity, they say. Harry grinned when feeling a sting of annoyance and underlying humor as answer. And I thought you just asked me to speak to the Weasley Twins after breakfast? If we're going to spend the night somewhere else…

We'll be back in time. And you said you'd speak to them after breakfast. I just felt like flying suddenly.

Harry couldn't deny that it was pleasant, save for the rough scales that chafed the skin of his inner thighs through his pants whenever Marvolo made an abrupt movement.

Hold on, we're going to land.

He gripped tighter onto the spike as they dropped. At the last moment in their fall, Marvolo spread his wings again, which slowed down their fall until they landed rather heavily on rough, grey stone. Harry looked up and saw a small, dark castle in front of him. He slid off Marvolo's back and looked at his head with curiosity. Dark red eyes stared back, and the light that fell through the windows of the castle made the black scales shimmer when the head turned so Marvolo could push his snout against Harry. It was strange how large he now was in comparison to Harry, although he held nothing to the Horntail or the other dragons Harry had seen so far. His head was about as long as Harry's arm when the teen embraced it with some difficulty.

"So beautiful…" Harry murmured, and Marvolo huffed, lifting the corner of his mouth. "I never imagined you to be a dragon though. I always thought a snake…"

I can see where you'd get that. He heard his lover chuckle in his head. I was rather surprised myself when I first transformed. I can still speak Parseltongue though. Most dragons understand it.

"Does that mean that the only thing I had to do last year was talk to the dragon?" Harry said, rather surprised.

What dragon did you have to fight?

"Horntail."

It would not have understood it. Differs too much from snakes. That Chinese Fireball and the Green Welsh would have. I don't know about the Shortsnout. But I take it that you like this form?

Quite.

Hmm… I wonder… well, I always wanted to try…

What?

Just stand still…

Not entirely comfortable, Harry remained still as Marvolo backed away slightly and positioned his head in front of him. Then, a long tongue, which was forked at the tip, came out and suggestively licked the teens lips, making Harry stagger backward, blushing furiously. Marvolo growled a bit in playfulness and shot forward again, his snout an inch from Harry's nose, whose heart was practically beating out of his chest. Before something could happen though, the doors of the castle opened and a tall, blonde man stood in the door opening.

"Who goes there? I do not allow… Voldemort? Is that you?"

Marvolo pulled back from a still stunned Harry and transformed back into his usual self. "Stryker. How nice to see you again. Has business been well?"

"Certainly. Did I somehow do something to displease you that you come here?"

"Not at all… I simply needed to stay somewhere for the night. I was at Hogwarts, you see, but I felt the urge to be away for a night, and my manor is quite far. If it would not be too much trouble…?"

"Please, come in." the man said, and made a welcoming gesture with his hand. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"Indeed… would you know the time?"

"It is around ten, I believe."

"Good. Then I know how long it will take to fly back." Marvolo said, grasping Harry's hand, guiding him towards the castle.


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xx GeMerope