:P OMG! I love my puppy! But she really wears me thin!

Harry stared around at the slowly quieting room, looking for Theodore. All the excitement of Sirius Black trying to break into Gryffindor Tower was finally beginning to die down. Spotting the boy with the other Slytherins, Harry began to army crawl his way towards him, which happened to be impossible to do without bumping into people and squishing a few fingers. Finally, he reached the other, who gave him a raised eyebrow.

"Shove off, Potter." Malfoy said from close by. "This area is for Slytherins only."

"You shove off." Harry snapped back.

"Don't talk to him like that." Theodore hissed darkly and Harry knew it was aimed at him.

Ears pinned back on his head, he faced Theodore again. "Hey, you're smart."

"Well-spotted."

Rolling his eyes, Harry continued. "How do you think Black broke in?"

"Why don't you read some books and figure it out on your own instead of relying on the intellect of others?"

Malfoy made a snigger and Harry swore he heard others as well.

"Quiet over there!" Percy called from the middle of the hall, his voice echoing off the walls.

Harry's voice dropped. "Do you think he could do it again?"

"Scared, Potter?" Malfoy asked in amusement. "Want to cry to mommy? Oh, wait...I forgot: you don't have a mommy."

"Shut it, Malfoy."

Harry was shocked the almost animalistic growl came from Theodore. He stared at the boy, whose eyes had become two shards of ice, as he glared daggers at Draco. The other smaller Slytherin seemed to realize he'd said the wrong thing because he muttered something under his breath that Harry was sure was an apology before turning over.

"Thanks..." Harry murmured.

"You think I did it for you?" Theodore's eyes mocked him. "As for Black getting in...well, I thought that was obvious."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't know?" Theodore's brow rose in a high arch on his face. "Are you an idiot?"

"You keep calling me that." Harry seethed. "But I think you keep forgetting that I was raised by Muggles and I didn't start learning about the wizarding world until I got my Hogwart's letter."

"I didn't know that." Theodore said coolly. "At any rate, perhaps you should talk to a teacher then."

"No one is telling me anything about Black."

"Well, that's probably for the best then."

"You know. Why don't you tell me?"

"People learn better if they investigate on their own."

"This is me investigating."

"You're lazy."

"You're a git."

"Idiot."

"Prat."

"I'm not going to play this game with you."

"Weren't you just a second ago?"

"Shouldn't you be asleep?"

"Shouldn't you?"

"I would be if you were leaving me alone."

"Going to start whining?" Harry snapped. "What's with Black?"

"He's a traitor." Theodore hissed, his irritation getting the best of him. "According to what everyone knows, he betrayed those who opposed the Dark Lord and he wants to finish what he started."

"What he started?"

"Getting rid of you." Theodore stated. "He wants to kill you. That's why he's here. As long as you're alive, he'll keep breaking in...as far as anyone knows."

"As far as..." Harry furrowed his brows. "You know more?"

"Nott." This voice was Malfoy's and Harry glanced over to see the blond looking very apprehensive and a warning in his eyes.

Harry returned his gaze to Theodore who narrowed his eyes only momentarily before closing them and shrugging.

"Nothing is certain." He looked at Harry seriously. "Go away."

"But you know."

"What do I know?"

"The truth."

"There is no truth: only perspective." Theodore muttered. "Go away."

"Then tell me your perspective." Harry insisted.

"I am tired." Theodore's voice had darkened. "More importantly, I am tired of you. Go away. Now."

Defeated, Harry slithered back to his sleeping bag and turned to talk to Ron, but the redhead was facing away and fake snoring again. He thought about talking to Hermione, but changed his mind and closed his eyes tight, trying to will away the pain of Theodore's words. Why did everything the Slytherin say seem to hit home every time?

Despite how much he wanted to get to know Theodore, Harry felt Quidditch should come first, considering the match, now against Hufflepuff, was tomorrow, but the teachers seemed to think it was more important to strengthen the connection between the Animusparticeps. While the rest of the team was out practicing, Harry was in a classroom during another lock-in session with Theodore.

"You know Snape made us do an essay on werewolves." Harry muttered bitterly as he glared down at his bag, his tail frizzed with his anger. "It's not even his class!"

"I wonder why." Theodore mused, flipping through another book.

"We haven't even covered the topic!" Harry complained. "It was at the back of the book! Just because Lupin is sick..."

"Is he really?"

"You don't sound even a little bit interested."

"Well, I've already figured everything out, so of course now it doesn't interest me."

"Figured everything..." Harry furrowed his brows. "What have you figured out?"

"Read a book."

"Could you stop being such a prat?"

"Maybe if you stop being an idiot."

"What have you figured out?"

"Do your essay."

"What have you figured out?"

"Are you two today?"

"What have you figured out?"

Theodore stood and walked to the other side of the classroom and took a seat. Annoyed that irritating Theodore didn't get Harry what he wanted, the boy shuffled towards the Slytherin and took his seat again.

"Why are you so difficult?"

"Why are you so stupid?" Theodore replied without looking up from his book.

"Are we going to keep doing this to each other?"

"Apparently."

"I don't like it." Harry sighed, shoving his hair down on his head. "I just want us to be nice to each other and get along. Is it really that hard?"

"You're trying to use me." Theodore corrected coolly. "I am a tool for information."

"What?" Harry was alarmed by this. "That's not how I see it."

"Oh? So you're unintentionally using and abusing?"

"I don't use you or abuse you!" Harry scoffed. "You're the abusing one!"

"Is that so?"

"You're verbally abusive."

"What a long term..."

"See?"

Theodore sighed roughly and set down his book. "What do you want, Potter?"

"It's 'Harry'."

"Fine. What do you want..." He decided not to finish the sentence with 'Harry'.

"Ugh..." Harry rolled his eyes. "I want to be friends."

"We can't be friends." Theodore told him. "A Slytherin and a Gryffindor can never be friends."

"Weren't Salazar and Godric friends though?"

"A rumor." Theodore waved his hand dismissively. "We can't be friends."

"Your reason is stupid."

"You will never understand." Theodore's eyes looked for an instance sad and Harry stared at him, surprised. "This is clearly a mistake."

"I thought Fate couldn't make mistakes." Harry said, giving Theodore a glare. "Has it ever been known to before?"

"Why do you think there are disconnections?"

"Because people are stupid and stubborn."

"Well..." Theodore motioned to Harry and the Gryffindor felt another surge of rage.

"Would you stop calling me an idiot?" He shouted as he stood, scowling down at Theodore. "You're not even trying!"

"I don't see any point in wasted effort."

"Is that how you see it?" Harry huffed. "That it's all wasted effort?"

"That's what I said, yes."

Harry swallowed down the lump and turned to walk towards the door, wanting out now before he lost it in front of the Slytherin. This was ridiculous. He hadn't done anything to deserve this animosity and violence and pure loathing. He felt that Fate had been cruel and unfair to pair him with Theodore Nott, who had to be the worst Slytherin choice out there. Even Malfoy was starting to look like a better choice. At least, Harry felt Malfoy would have tried.

"Come back here." Theodore groaned from where he was sitting and Harry turned to face him, even though he still wanted to leave. "Come on..."

"Why?" Harry muttered. "So you can insult me some more?"

"So I can tell you what I know." Theodore pushed his book to the corner of his desk. "Well?"

"I'd much rather learn more about you." Harry admitted.

Theodore's eyes narrowed for a moment, but then he nodded. "Fine."

"How did it go?" Hermione asked as the trio made their way towards Gryffindor Tower.

"He told me some things." Harry shrugged, watching Ronald as the redhead stared at Sally-Anne a few steps ahead with Fay Dunbar. "I guess, he's really into the Dark Arts and knows a lot of hexes. Hates flying on a broomstick...and he...ugh...Hermione, he and I are complete opposites."

Harry admitted to himself he thought it odd that Theodore shared so much, but he figured it had to be the particep connection doing it. He himself had shared he was almost sorted into Slytherin, something he normally would hold out on people.

"They say opposites attract." Hermione said wisely.

"You should be focusing on the game tomorrow." Ronald suddenly said. "Not this Slytherin bloke. He's just a nuisance anyways."

"He's Harry's particep." Hermione stated, her ears pinning back.

"And?" Ronald gave a glare, his tail stiffening. "He's a Slytherin."

"He's not a bad person." Harry began, but this was the wrong thing to say.

Ronald stopped walking. "You just said he's really into the Dark Arts."

"Well...yeah...but..."

"AND he knows a lot of hexes."

"So..."

"How can he be a good person if he's like that? Like a typical Slytherin? Or is that what you like?"

"Hey, I didn't choose this..."

"Well, you sure don't seem bothered by it." Ronald grumbled.

Harry gave a huff. "If I don't embrace it, I'm going to die or did you forget?"

"Well, maybe you'd be better off."

Hermione gave a gasp and Harry blanched, completely taken aback by this statement.

"I thought you were my friend."

"I thought I was too." Ron's nostrils were flaring with each breath and his ears had reddened. "But I don't think a friend of mine would be a particep with a Slytherin."

"It hasn't changed who Harry is!" Hermione objected.

"Of course it has." Ronald scrunched up his face. "Our particeps are a reflection of ourselves. Everyone knows that. If he's a particep with a Slytherin than he's as good as being a snake himself."

"But you just said it!" Hermione gaped at the redhead. "Nott is a particep with Harry, so how are you so sure he's not a Gryffindor?"

"Harry already told us!" Ron yelled and around them students stopped to give them surprised and speculative looks. "That Slytherin is into the Dark Arts and likes hexes. He's clearly not a Gryffindor."

"Oh, that decides it, does it?" Hermione put her hands on her hips. "Well, if I'm not mistaken, you know a few hexes yourself."

"I'm not going to be hexing people left and right though, will I?"

"I haven't seen Nott hex a single person." Hermione's face had become dangerously serene.

"Yeah?" Ron rolled his eyes. "Because he's a Slytherin. He's smart enough not to get caught."

"Unlike some."

The trio turned around and they all paled at the sight of Snape standing there, looking far too happy.

"Well, well." He smirked. "Looks like three detentions for being out past curfew and, Potter, you are to come with me."

"Why?"

"Don't. Question. Me." Snape sneered, his ears flattening against his head. "Get moving Weasley, Granger, before I give you another night."

Feeling apprehensive and a bit scared, Harry followed the Head of Slytherin House down into a nearby classroom where Peeves was grinding up chalk into powder.

"Get. Out." Snape said dangerously and Harry was surprised to see Peeves give a startled jerk before zooming out of the room with a maniacal laugh, his bowl of powdered chalk in hand.

"Sir?" Harry asked as he watched Snape turn and face him.

"Nott has informed me that you are pestering him." Snape said seriously.

Harry groaned. "I'm not pestering him...really...but we're supposed to bond with our particep, right?"

Snape held up his hand to stop Harry from saying more. "I wasn't finished. It is my obligation to inform you that you must do everything in your power to continue making attempts to bond with your particep."

Harry was surprised and couldn't hide this.

"Disconnections kill and, while I see no problem with your death, Potter, I would hate for one of my snakes to die so prematurely. Do I make myself clear?"

Nodding, Harry waited to be dismissed, but it seemed Snape wasn't done yet.

"Nott also informs me that he told you something he probably shouldn't have."

Harry immediately had a terrible feeling rush through him and he looked down at the floor, afraid Snape would be able to see exactly what he was hiding. Theodore had told Harry the real reason Sirius was after Harry...or it was the perception of everyone around them. It seemed there was more to it, but Nott wasn't willing to release the information. Sirius Black was Harry's godfather and had betrayed his parents to Voldemort. He had been the Secret-Keeper to their Fidelius Charm and he had passed on the information of their location to Voldemort, thus sending him to them to kill Harry. It was no wonder he wanted to finish the job. Harry wanted to know the thing Theodore had been hiding, but the Slytherin had been stubborn and so Harry had dropped the issue. He had then discovered that Lupin was a werewolf who was currently taking the Wolfsbane Potion that Snape concocted for him every full moon. It was a little unnerving to know this little fact, but Lupin seemed pleasant enough and Harry was sure the man, a victim of chance, meant no harm to any of them...but, according to Theodore, Lupin had been good friends with James and Sirius in school.

"How do you know all this?" Harry had asked.

"My father and Mr. Malfoy." Theodore had shrugged. "They know all the dirt on everyone really...but I had to figure the werewolf thing out on my own."

Snape shifted and Harry looked up at him.

"You're hiding something, Potter."

"Is it true?" Harry blurted without thinking. "That you're giving Lupin..."

Snape's eyebrow raised, his perked ears showing his interest. "Giving Lupin what, Potter?"

"Er...nothing." Harry stared down at the floor again. "Could I please go back to my dormitory? There's a match tomorrow."

"Very well."

Harry turned as quickly as he could and marched towards the door of the classroom, but once he reached it, Snape called out to him.

"If I hear you're not giving your best effort," Snape stated. "I will report you to Dumbledore. You think a lock-in is bad?" He gave a snort of amusement. "There are worse things."

"Sir." Harry faced him, feeling a little vindictive because Snape was putting all the blame on Harry and none on Theodore. "All the other teachers introduce themselves with their second name, but I can't recall you ever doing so."

He watched Snape stiffen and his eyes light with rage. "Get to your dormitory, Potter. If I catch you wandering the halls in the next ten minutes, it'll be another detention."

Harry didn't argue and ran the rest of the way to the dormitory since he knew Snape was good at coming up with excuses for giving out more detention. Once there, he ignored everyone and went straight to bed, not because he was tired though...he had way too much to think about.

Ugh...so...tired :P