"Hermione, Blaise."
The two looked up at him and with a fluid wave of his hand they nodded thoughtfully and left the compartment. When the door shut again and the locking and privacy charms snapped back in place, Harry turned to the nervously shuffling Hufflepuff.
"Ask your question Cedric Diggory."
"What side are you on?" The Hufflepuff asked curtly after a moment.
"I'm Dark." Harry answered easily. "Not evil, and not dark like Voldemort. Just the opposite of light. I will live in peace, not vying for control and power."
For a moment there was silence.
"B….Blaise is on your side."
It was more of a statement but Harry nodded.
"Then I am on your side." Cedric said hesitantly.
"I will not force you." Harry said simply. "I will not ask you to commit crimes. I only ask you to keep an open mind."
Cedric nodded slowly, trying to understand.
"Do not concern yourself yet. You are too unknown for Voldemort to be after your allegiance and Dumbledore will not involve anyone your age. I do not ask anything of you except your loyalty to Blaise."
Cedric nodded hesitantly again and stood.
"I'm going to go find Blaise."
And then he was gone leaving Harry alone. Harry reached for the luggage rack and pulled his violin case down. He opened the case and pulled the beautiful instrument out. In the silence he tucked it under his chin and raised the bow. His song was soft and hollow.
.-.
"A new friend?" Harry asked, peering at the man with thick red hair and pale skin.
Horns peeked from his hair and he wore no shirt only pants. Said creature blinked at him curiously.
"I am a Totetsu."
"I call him T-chan!" D smiled cheerfully.
The creature, snorted only watching Harry both warily and curiously. Hedwig had already flittered over to the other birds and Ne had vanished. Harry ignored the eyes on him and watched D with a frown. The man hummed as he set a tray of cakes and tea on the coffee table, waving Harry to join him. Harry sat beside him slowly.
"Your eyes have changed." Harry said slowly.
"Oh?" D asked with a smirk.
"They are far less cruel."
D frowned turning to face him fully.
"They are more human." Harry remarked.
Harry's cheek stung from the slap he received.
"That was rude." D said. "Insulting me after not seeing me for months."
Harry gave a tinkering laugh that had no emotion.
"I'm stating the truth." Harry said. "You have connected more with a normal human during my absence."
The door opened at just that moment letting the blonde man from Christmas enter. The blonde blinked at them.
"Oh! The kid from Christmas." He greeted. "Henry right?"
"Harry." Harry said simply, giving a polite smile.
The blonde grinned sheepishly and then turned to D. Harry stood and grabbed his trunk, exiting the room to find his own. He set his trunk down and turned to find the Totesu in the doorway. He was looking at Harry in interest. Finally he stepped closer, running clawed fingers down his cheek.
"I have never seen D raise a hand against anyone." He remarked. "You seem to bring the wild out in him."
Harry chuckled but it was hollow. The totetsu drew back at the sound blinking at him in undisguised curiosity.
"Did the humans force you to get rid of you emotions?" he asked.
Harry paused and then chuckled again.
"They did not force me. I just wilted. Not enough warmth, not enough love, not enough emotion. I was invisible and ignored. Walls formed around me and I wilted."
The totetsu stared for a long moment, only interrupted as Hedwig swept past him and kissed Harry lovingly on the cheek before heading for the trunk to get her owl food. Ne followed hissing at the Totetsu in a threatening way as he moved to Harry's bed, still grumpy from the trip. Ne curled up under the blankets and Totetsu was left shooting a glare at him.
Harry just watched.
.-.
"Oh Harry." Noir purred as he rubbed his cheek against Harry's. "A fantastic win in the tournament."
"Thank you." Harry said listlessly.
Maen yawned from where he lay on the couch. To tired, he said, to get up and greet Naruto at the moment.
"His transformation was last night. Then he met up with another clan and was questioned non-stop about if they should join the 'secretly' resurrected Dark Lord." Noir pouted.
Harry chuckled. Maen twitched slightly and looked up frowning.
"It's not funny. Besides, if you go to the clans you would be just as harassed. Many asked what side you were on."
"And what did you reply?" Harry asked curiously.
"Your own."
"Ah." Harry frowned.
Noir smirked at him, baring his teeth.
"They'll be soon bothering you now too.
Harry twisted his lips and decided to ignore the two for now.
.-.
Harry took a seat gracefully and smiled charmingly at the waitress. She blushed and rattled off the day's special.
"Just some green tea please." He said decorously.
She scurried off. Harry looked to his partner.
"Hello Tom."
Tom Marvolo Riddle, looking all of eighteen, sneered.
"It seems I'm going my Marvolo now."
Harry could hear his frustration and slight wariness in the man's voice. It seems he had received a vision or such from Voldemort who had deemed his double Marvolo.
"At least Voldemort is not interested in destroying you." Harry said lightly.
Tom, or Marvolo now, snorted and sipped at his own tea. The waitress brought Harry's order and Harry offered a thank you before blowing on the steaming liquid and taking a drink.
"Why did you call me here?" Marvolo asked after a moment.
"The war has started." Harry said easily.
Marvolo glanced away and Harry noted his shifted nervously.
"It has, has it?" Marvolo muttered.
"Yes. Voldemort made the first move with his resurrection. I made the second by claiming who my first followers were to his face. Dumbledore made the third by telling the world he believes Voldemort is back. The ministry made the forth move by denying what Dumbledore said."
Marvolo nodded curtly and tapped his foot nervously as he sipped his tea again.
"Voldemort knows you are on my side." Harry said. "He knows not to touch you unless he wants me as an enemy. And at the moment he does not."
"He could decide at any moment that you are not important and that he would be safer with me locked up somewhere." Marvolo spat. "Out of all his Horocruxs I am his strongest and the most visible one."
Harry shrugged idly and stirred another cube of sugar into his tea. Silence reigned. Harry sipped his tea absently as he watched the oblivious muggles around him.
"Is that the only reason you called me?" Marvolo asked abruptly.
"Almost." Harry shrugged. "I wished to point out that the war has started and there are now Four sides. Dumbledore's, Voldemort's, the Ministry's, and Mine. The Ministry only contains the people who don't like Dumbledore and who don't want to believe Voldemort is back. Dumbledore's consists of most of the light families, and Voldemort's consists of the dark families."
Harry paused.
"And yours?" Marvolo prompted.
"Mine at this moment contains Lucius, Severus, Barty Jr., You, Maen and Noir, Blaise, and Hermione. Cedric Diggory could be counted on my side, but at the moment he is too worthless to be counted as anyone of value. The only things that even makes me notice him is Blaise's interest."
Marvolo snorted and sipped his tea.
"And others? Or is yours the rag tag group?"
Harry leaned forward, resting his head in an open palm as he leaned on the table idly.
"Many werewolves have expressed a desire to join me, as have a few vampire covens."
Silence reigned again.
"I should go." Marvolo said standing abruptly.
"Oh?"
"Barty is still where I left him in Beijing. And I was in the middle of a deal before you contacted me for this pointless meeting."
Harry just smirked. Marvolo turned to leave.
"You are on my side of course, right Marvolo?" He asked.
The dark and handsome man paused.
"Yes. I am on your side." He muttered.
Then he swept off. The waitress returned to Harry a few minutes later.
"Your friend said you were paying for him." She said quickly as if he would be mad.
Harry just chuckled at Marvolo's childishness.
.-.
End of Chapter 40.