True Allegiance

By: Jessarie

A/N: I am so excited about this story I can barely type. I really like the way it is turning out and so I am going to continue posting until I get tired of it and need a break. That means you might get extra chapters, like this one. :)

Chapter 5: Friends and Foes

Harry Potter, who wasn't really a Potter, walked into the Great Hall with a rather pensive look upon his face. He side- stepped some first year Hufflepuffs who happened to be standing right in his way and slid falling suddenly. The floor rose up quickly to meet him and Harry closed his eyes. Then he hit something soft and warm. Blinking rapidly he opened his eyes to find he had been caught straight around the waist by none other than Draco Malfoy.

"T-Thanks." Harry stuttered freeing himself from the blond's grasp.

Draco smiled, a real smile. "No problem." he said. The Gryffindor's within hearing distance gasped or began talking amongst themselves.

"I mean..." Draco began with a slight bit of amusement shining in his pale eyes. "Is that it would be no fun to laugh if you fell of your own accord. Now had I tripped you then you could have just landed and we could have found our amusement for the day."

Harry's mouth fell open. "Well, thanks anyway." he said softly walking away. Something told him Draco knew. Knew of his fathers and his changing of sides. Harry's left hand unconsciously brushed the ring resting on his right pointer finger.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?" A very loud voice asked when Harry reached his house table. Harry turned slightly and saw the fury on his supposed friends face.

"What do you mean, Ron?" Harry asked.

"Malfoy. Caught. You." Ron said as though he was talking to a small child. Harry felt this very degrading.

He smiled. "Well, I for one would have rather been caught than land on the floor." Harry said standing again. "Oh, and Ron?" he waited for him to look up.

"I am not and have never been a child with no understanding. Do not ever speak to me like that again!" Harry said his voice shocking most of the hall who were watching with rapt attention. His voice was hard and controlled with a slight hissing sort of quality.

Ron turned deathly pale and stuttered out an apology. "Y-yeah mate, sorry."

Harry was about to leave again when another voice made him pause. "Harry. May I speak to you alone for a moment?" Hermione asked looking worn and tired. Harry nodded and began walking waiting for her at the end of the table, he took her arm.

The two headed for the grounds hoping the fresh air would calm Harry, if only slightly. "Harry?" Hermione whispered. He nodded. "I have been having some doubts about Dumbledore and his plans for the order. I looked into it and I think that V-Voldemort was right in a certain respect. If muggleborns were better educated before entering Hogwarts none of the prejudice would exist. Ron refused to listen and said if I go Dark he is done with me."

Hermione looked calm, but Harry who had viewed her as the sister he never had could see the turmoil within her face. He couldn't stand it. "Come with me." He said softly.

Then ended up in the trunk of the Whomping Willow tree. Harry reached down touching his ring. "Do you trust me, Hermione?" he asked looking into his sister's chocolate eyes.

"Yes." she answered. Harry nodded once more and began hissing in Parseltongue. Then he waited and waited. Many minutes later the ring grew warm. He touched it again and his eyes lit up.

Letting go for a moment he put Hermione's arm through his own and touched the ring again. "Heart." he said in Parseltongue. The ring portkeyed them to the main study in Riddle Manor.

Hermione Granger opened her eyes to find her breath lodged in her throat. "Y-your Voldemort." she whispered.

"Breathe. 'Mione?" Harry responded. She let go of Harry's arm, then quite calmly from what he could tell, stepped forward.

Hand outstretched she said. "Hello, I am Hermione Granger."

Tom grinned. "Pleasure to meet you Miss Granger. I do not feel a need to introduce myself, but you may call my whatever you feel most comfortable with, within reason."

"Thank you, Sir. I am kind of shocked. I was just explaining to Harry my doubts regarding Dumbledore and how Ron, my ex-boyfriend refuses to stand by us." She said. "And, you."

Hermione rounded on Harry. "How dare you not tell me you switched sides. Buffoon!"

Harry laughed. "I know, but it like just happened. I found out James and Lily aren't my real parents, too."

Hermione's frowned. "Snape." She said like it was the easiest thing in the world to figure out.

"How..." Harry started to ask. Hermione smiled. "I know you, Harry, and sometimes you do things kind of how he does. Who is your mom, though?" she asked.

A big black dog bounded into the room just as Hermione finished her question. "I don't believe it." she said gasping as Sirius became man once more.

"Hermione." He said hugging the stunned young woman.

"Down, Siri. Let the poor girl breathe." A silky snide voice said from behind them.

Everyone turned to find Severus leaning in the doorway. "Sirius is your other dad, isn't he?" Hermione guessed rather quickly. Harry nodded going over to hug Severus.

"Wait! I thought Dumbles was keeping you on a tight lease?" Harry questioned looking up into coal black eyes. Severus nodded. "He is, but I told him I was being summoned for a meeting and pretended my arm was burning. You two should get back soon."

Harry nodded and Tom spoke. "Miss Granger?" the young woman in question turned to look at him. "Would you like to join us?" he asked.

"I would love to, but as I know with Harry it would be best for me to wait to be marked in any way." She answered.

Tom nodded a thoughtful look upon his face. "Perhaps the friends loyal to Harry, but not willing to be marked by me could have an emblem or token from Harry showing they are a part of his squad." Harry's eyes widened to the size of a house elf's. "You want me to have my own followers?" He asked breathlessly.

"I think it would be best. You are in an alliance with me and mine, so why shouldn't those not ready to be fully loyal to me, but are loyal to you not be your own?" Tom responded. Harry looked to be deep in thought. Then a brilliant smile overtook his face.

"I know the perfect thing, but please don't be mad. I haven't had the chance to tell anyone of this ability." Harry said looking a tad unsure.

All eyes were on him as he took Hermione's left arm. Slowly black began to form around her wrist. Leather scented the air and when Harry pulled away she was left with a perfect cuff with no way visible to remove it. "It is waterproof and spell proof. In other words, only I can get it off. It will grow hot when you have a message. I made it like those coins we used for the DA fifth year. The message with appear in writing on the cuff. You use the spell 'leggere' to read what is left for you when it grows warm and the spell 'scrivere' to write your message. Your wand tip needs to be in contact with the cuff for the entire message to translate." Harry explained quickly but efficiently.

The awe of those around him was like a blanket. He smiled up at Tom who had come to inspect his work. "pelle tessitore." Tom said smiling back.

"A leather weaver." Hermione stated to the puzzled look upon Sirius' face. "It means Harry can use his magic without a wand to form anything and almost everything possible out of leather. It also means any magic performed that way is stronger."

Sirius grinned. "Nice work, son!" he exclaimed.

Harry and Hermione were back on Hogwarts grounds before anyone noticed their absence. Harry felt better than he had in years and Hermione. Well, she couldn't wait to see if maybe she could do some good for fellow muggleborns to come.

A/N: Just to clarify, leggere = read, scrivere = write, and pelle tessitore = leather weaver. Translations are italian and from google translate. Well? I don't know about this one yet. I am kind of unsure, so leave your opinions, nicely please! Next chapter we see Ron blow up, again and some actual slash action between our main pairing.