"As all of you know," Tom began clearly, his voice carrying over the group of gathering Death Eaters, who were all eager to hear about what was happening, "tonight we successfully met with and overpowered Grindelwald's true followers, keeping all of our own people safe, as well as protecting a few new additions to our group…"

Tom paused here, allowing the many Death Eaters before him to glance curiously at the eleven Knights of Walpurgis, who stood by the edge of the crowd. The Knights appeared patient and unfazed, most of them never glancing away from Tom even when almost every Death Eater scrutinized them from beneath their hoods. None of them had yet removed their masks.

"Although tonight's endeavour ended more victoriously than any of us could hope," Tom carried on, "we are still facing quite a few difficulties concerning the true followers of Gellert Grindelwald. The four friends of ours who were rescued by us earlier this evening have been recovering quickly since our return, but beyond this positive fact we are still forced to remain vigilant and alert, for Grindelwald's people are mere miles away from us as we speak, keen upon seeking quick revenge."

The Death Eaters around Harry began mumbling to each other, sharing their thoughts in tones of concern. Many of them were keeping their voices lower than usual, and Harry couldn't help but wonder whether they distrusted the distant yet listening Knights of Walpurgis.

"Protecting this land further shan't be a problem, however," Tom assured his friends firmly, having heard the doubt clearly in their voices. "As very few of you know, we are fortunate enough to have gained the trust and support of one of the best curse breakers Grindelwald's people had, so we shan't worry about the incantations around this land breaking. We now know what protection they will expect, and what magic is too difficult for them to crack…"

The Death Eaters didn't say much to each other at this, and their lack of relief didn't go unnoticed by Harry. Tom had spent the last hour talking mostly to the Knights of Walpurgis in quick German that no one else understood, and the Death Eaters blatantly weren't pleased about this.

Tom had given instructions for a few of them to begin healing the four previously captured Death Eaters, and he had also said a few things here and there to his friends in general, but it appeared as though he was too distracted by the night's events to realise that he was offending, annoying, and worrying the Death Eaters in a lot of ways.

"With inside information upon Grindelwald's people, we shall be safer than ever before," Tom told his friends confidently, appearing proud to say it. "Even if this means we must still fight–"

"How do we know we can trust them, though?" Mulciber's loud voice called from the middle of the crowd. "I mean, we can't know they're telling the truth, can we? They joined our side pretty randomly, from what I saw."

Tom appeared a little more annoyed than usual with being interrupted… or perhaps he just felt that he needed a moment to gather his thoughts; Harry couldn't be sure. "As I was about to inform you all, the eleven Wizards who join us here tonight are not, in fact, Grindelwald's people."

"Well, how'd they hide with all of Grindelwald's people then?" Dolohov's voice wondered aloud from beneath a dark mask, joining the other Death Eaters' general confusion.

"Our newest guests are all part of an organization referred to most commonly as 'The Knights of Walpurgis'," Tom stated clearly, answering to many similar questions being asked at once. "They have been with Grindelwald's people for a number of years, yet the act of joining Grindelwald was not something many of the Knights agreed to take part in."

"Why'd they join Grindelwald's people then?" Dolohov asked, annoyed in his confusion, as though he firmly thought that Tom believed an obviously flawed series of lies.

"Despite being against Grindelwald due to his lack of understanding and experience with ancient legends, a few of the Knights – such as those who gather here tonight – felt that they needed to support Gellert Grindelwald in memory of their past leaders… In other words, they felt as though any group dedicated to the Dark Arts was a group they shouldn't hesitate in joining."

"So, you expect us to believe–" Gonson began, but someone cut off his words.

"Please understand zat ve vere mistaken," one of the Knights said bravely, his eyes resting mostly upon Tom, yet darting to the curious Death Eaters every few seconds. "Understand zat ve felt zere vas no more hope for ze Knights of Walpurgis. Ve could never expect – ve could never dream – that a true Heir himself would still be alive in zis day and age… and a powerful Heir, most of all…"

The Death Eaters all glanced at each other silently. Harry could feel his stomach lurch in anxiety while he clenched his jaw, reluctant to fully reflect upon the meaning of this Knight's words…

"Heir?" Nott repeated from the front of the crowd. "Does he mean–?"

"Salazar Slytherin's Heir, yes," Tom confirmed. Though his voice was even, he was unable to keep the blatant elation out of his expression. A smile crept upon his face while his eyes burned with mad happiness – though Harry knew this wasn't a tenth of his true expression yet. "Slytherin was, naturally, a leader of the Knights of Walpurgis for a great while…"

"Did he form the group?" Nott asked in bewilderment.

"That I cannot tell you," Tom admitted, still unable to truly control his smile. "The Knights of Walpurgis are a very ancient group. Many people do indeed claim that Slytherin was their true, initial leader… yet the Knights have always existed. Dark Magic has always been worshipped for its power on some level, even if Slytherin was, perhaps, the first creator of the strong, solid group that was and is now known as the Knights of Walpurgis…"

At this, the Death Eaters appeared somewhat impressed, but this didn't banish their doubt completely. Harry didn't say a word to anyone. He could barely think straight at all…

"How many Knights of Walpurgis are there?" Rosier asked from close to Harry. "I mean, if around ten of them have joined us so far, not counting those who couldn't make it, and if we take into consideration that a lot of followers probably left Grindelwald at his downfall…"

At this, Tom turned towards the eleven Knights, indicating that they should answer the question for him. A Knight standing at the front of the group nodded politely and turned to the Death Eaters, frowning slightly as he thought.

"Vell, zere are possibly hundreds, or even thousands, of Vizards who know about ze Knights of Walpurgis and who vould be villing to join it," the Wizard began, his tone contemplative, "but very few true followers remain. I vould say zat zere are only about thirty to fifty Knights who vould be able to join our true leader vonce and for all."

The Death Eaters began to mutter to each other again, some of them sounding impressed, while the majority was clearly sceptical. Upon examining the Knights of Walpurgis, Harry found his eyes resting upon the tall blond wizard that they had captured only earlier this evening to use as a fake Harry for Grindelwald's true people. Thorfinn Rowle, a future Death Eater…

The Death Eaters continued to ask Tom tens of questions around Harry, but it appeared as though Tom was unwilling to answer any of them. After one or two attempts to try and get his friends to ask the Knights themselves about their relation to Grindelwald's people, Tom seemed to decide that he had to do something more.

"The new arrivals to this land shall be sharing dormitories with all of you from this point on," Tom informed everyone as voices began to die down. "If you have any further questions, then I stress again that you will be better off bothering the Knights themselves with your inquiries. We have accomplished tremendous work tonight, and I believe it is only expected that we end the evening here, without any further fatigue."

The Death Eaters were quieter at this. Many of them sounded disappointed, but a lot of them were somewhat relieved at the prospect of sleep. Harry could tell they were just as uneasy as he was at the idea of the Knights of Walpurgis sharing their rooms, however.

"Now, all of you remove your masks, and return to your dormitories," Tom ordered lightly, appearing almost ready to leave the room.

The Death Eaters all glanced at each other slowly while a few people, including Harry, began removing their masks. Many of the Death Eaters didn't reveal their faces. Many more of the Death Eaters didn't move.

After a moment, even Tom understood that his friends were too unsure to follow his orders, but he had very little sympathy for them. Without saying a word, but whilst appearing slightly irked, he raised his wand and removed the masks from every Death Eater still wearing them. Without pausing to see their reactions, he turned to the Knights, unfazed.

"It is not safe for any of you to venture beyond this land tonight," Tom told them seriously. "If you wish to contact the other Knights of Walpurgis, I'm afraid it's going to have to wait until at least tomorrow evening. Grindelwald's true people are waiting mere miles away from this land, and brining our defences down at this time would be running a very high risk of invasion."

The Knights showed signs of agreement so sincerely that it appeared as though Tom's claim was a dire order they had to follow as if their lives depended upon it… though, after a moment, Harry supposed that their lives probably did. The Death Eaters, who were blatantly a little uncomfortable with showing their faces, were barely looked at once by the Knights, but this didn't reassure them in any way. Many of them headed for the corridor to follow Tom's previous orders in spite.

As the large room they stood within began to empty, Harry headed towards Tom at a slow pace. The Knights of Walpurgis looked at him curiously as he approached, but the minds that weren't guarded by Occlumency told Harry they weren't watching him with the keen interest and hatred that Grindelwald's people might have shown. They no longer cared for anything but Tom.

Harry found himself examining the eleven Knights carefully as his heart pumped what felt like pure anxiety through his veins. Thorfinn Rowle was one of the youngest Knights, at around a mere two decades old. Most of the others appeared to be around fifty or sixty years old, though it was hard to tell while they held themselves with such pride and elation at having found their true leader at last…

It didn't seem possible to Harry that these wizards were soon to become Death Eaters… Yet he knew by this point it was impossible for them not to, unless it was mere coincidence that a wizard named Thorfinn Rowle joined them today, dedicated to Tom so strongly that he would give up his old job and risk his life just to stand by Tom's side.

"Goodnight to you all," Tom said quietly to the Knights, turning away casually.

The eleven addressed Wizards said goodnight to Tom too, but Tom was already distracted by something else by the time they said it.

"Nott," Tom called across the hall, causing the blue eyed Death Eater to turn back, "I'm afraid you will have to return to your dormitory later than the others. There is an urgent matter I must discuss with you…"

Harry felt that Nott's confusion and slight worry mirrored his own as the both of them walked closer to Tom. Nott didn't ask what the urgent matter was, for Tom showed every sign of not wanting to discuss anything here.

"You should join us too, Jonathan," Tom said softly, before indicating that they should start walking.

Harry felt somewhat relieved at this, as he reflected that Tom wouldn't punish Nott unjustly if he, Harry, was watching. Tom led them out onto the corridor beyond the meeting hall, but in the opposite direction of the Death Eaters and Knights, who were heading for the dormitories. Harry thought at first that they were about to head outside, until, to his surprise, Tom entered the room where the four previously captured Death Eaters were healing.

The hospital room was quite narrow for the Death Eaters' building, yet it was still wide enough to fit ten beds on the left-hand wall, whilst leaving enough room for a few wizards at a time to walk by the ends of the beds, to the right of the room. A few Death Eaters were talking quietly upon some of the furthest beds, and Tom led Harry and Nott towards them.

Gonson, Rosier, and Ransom were sitting at the ends of Avery and Gibbon's beds while the latter Death Eaters lay with the covers pulled up above them, prepared to have a well deserved night's rest after the horrible events they had struggled through in the past week. Macnair stood nearby, healed from most of his pain and eager to talk, while Lestrange sat a bed apart from everyone, almost hidden in the shadows.

Lestrange was sitting upon neat bedcovers, apparently without any desire to get under them, or even to change out of the dirty robes that he had worn since being captured and questioned by Grindelwald's people. Although all of his open injuries were gone, as well as most of his internal problems relating to the torture that Grindelwald's people had put him though, he was still visibly far from healthy as he stared into space, having suffered far more trauma than his three Death Eater companions…

When Tom, Nott, and Harry approached Lestrange, he looked up slowly. When he saw Tom standing besides his bed, he stood up. He looked relieved, and Harry was quite surprised. He had believed firmly that Lestrange would be terrified at the sight of Tom. Lestrange had likely shared some of Tom's secrets with Grindelwald's people under the stress of torture, so it confused Harry to see him now, looking as though Tom's presence meant only good news.

Then, Lestrange's eyes fell upon Harry.

"Are you alright?" Lestrange asked. "How are you here?"

Harry stared at the Death Eater, too confused by these questions to answer. When his eyes darted to Tom in concern, Tom looked at him for only a second before turning his attention back to Lestrange.

"From what I've heard," Tom began, "you suffered some sort of accident, which caused you to loose your memory. You are, if I am correct, still under the illusion that it's December of 1947. You have lost all memory of the last four months."

Lestrange gazed at Tom in fright for a moment or two, before looking around to everyone else to see their reactions. Nott and Harry were nothing but bewildered.

"It weren't just 'some sort of accident'," Avery's voice called from two beds away, "it was completely mental – turned his own wand on himself, Lestrange did. Used some spell that none of us heard the name of, which messed up with his brain, by the looks of it. Gridenwald's lot couldn't get one piece of information out of him about the last few months. It was weird…"

Tom appeared as surprised as Harry was at this piece of information. Yet Harry, perhaps like Tom, soon understood what must have happened. Lestrange had used a Memory Charm upon himself to conceal the secrets he had learnt about Harry and Tom in the last few months. Doubtlessly, this quick plan had worked completely in stopping Grindelwald's people from gaining information, even if the price was worse torture for Lestrange.

"But is that why you send us away?" Lestrange asked, "to rescue Jonathan? But then why is he here? How did he escape from Grindelwald's people?"

"Jonathan was rescued around four months ago now," Tom informed Lestrange calmly. "It is April, 1948. Grindelwald's people ambushed you on a far different mission, one that was only initiated to take down a few more of Grindelwald's people. You needn't worry about Jonathan, or anything of the sort."

"But – but," Lestrange stammered, appearing greatly unsettled about the whole situation, "What happened to me? Why am I the only one with memory loss?"

"I believe the memory loss was self-inflicted," Tom informed Lestrange quietly. "I have a few theories as to why you did it, but I believe it will be a few weeks or months before you regain your memories. For now, I stress again that you needn't worry."

Avery, Gibbon, Gonson, Macnair, Rosier, and Ransom were all listening closely, but they couldn't truly hear what Tom was saying. Lestrange wasn't very reassured by Tom's words, but he seemed more willing to withhold the many questions that were bothering him. Tom decided to add something more, as a last attempt to calm him.

"Come with me," Tom beckoned, turning away from Lestrange's bed, "I must tell you that Nott will likely be a great help for you in your attempt to regain your memories. He has been with you often in the last four months. This is why I think it's only fair that you should be put in the same room, perhaps away from the others…"

They were entering the main hall of the Death Eaters' building, just outside of the hospital room. Harry was equally as confused by Tom's statement as the two Death Eaters were.

"You want to separate us from the others?" Nott asked carefully.

"Yes," Tom confirmed. "For a few months, at least."

All four of them were silent, walking further along the corridor.

"Why?" Lestrange asked bravely.

Tom did not answer immediately. It was only when they were near the main entrance when he stopped walking to face Harry and the two curious Death Eaters.

"I'm afraid your questions will have to wait until tomorrow evening," Tom said simply. "For tonight, I ask only that you follow my orders with trust, and remain away from the others until further instructions."

This seemed to confuse Nott and Lestrange further, and even alarm them.

"You will be staying at Jonathan's house," Tom carried on, as if he didn't notice their concern. "I will set up a room for you both, and I expect you to stay within his home for the whole of tomorrow, until I visit you. Understood?"

The two Death Eaters nodded slowly, mumbling some words of understanding.

Harry was somewhat surprised by Tom's choice in letting Nott and Lestrange stay at his house. Yet despite the fact that he still didn't understand why Tom was doing this, he felt as though he should trust that Tom had some sort of plan…

"So, without further ado, let us venture forth to set up your room…"

–X–

"What was all of that about?" Harry asked Tom ten minutes after they had walked back from his own house to spend time alone in Tom's. "Why are you asking them to stay away from the others?"

"Their minds," Tom answered simply from the bathroom. The sound of running water suggesting that he was cleaning his hands. "As I am sure you noticed, the Knights of Walpurgis all seem perfectly able to use both Occlumency and Legilimency… even if they, in truth, do not seem to want to use either against me…"

Harry thought he heard a smile within Tom's voice. He was sitting upon Tom's bed, waiting idly for him to return from the bathroom for a fuller conversation.

"So, what's your plan?" Harry asked the moment Tom appeared in the doorway. "You can't keep them away from everyone else for long. They'll start to get suspicious. Everyone will."

Tom headed towards one of the cupboards, vaguely looking for something. He didn't answer Harry's inquiries yet, while Harry decided to stand up.

"Unless," Harry said slowly, "you're planning on teaching them Occlumency…"

"My plan precisely," Tom smiled. He stopped searching the cupboard to give Harry his full attention. "I know their minds well already, so even if they learn Occlumency they shan't be a threat. Having two friends with the ability to attempt to hide thoughts from me is worth it for keeping our secret safe."

"Attempt to hide thoughts from you?" Harry repeated, not missing the meaning behind Tom's words. "If you're going to teach them Occlumency, you should do it properly."

"Oh, I will do it properly," Tom said lightly, "but even the best of Occlumens can't block the access of every thought… Or so they say…"

Tom's smile had faded. His expression wasn't distrustful while he watched Harry, but there was certainly a lot of evident thinking going on behind his dark grey eyes. Memories of worrying in the past about Tom's Legilimency skills came flooding back to Harry in the silence.

Voldemort was, as many people claimed, one of the greatest – if not the greatest – Legilimens the world had ever known. Although Harry firmly believed that Tom had never once seen into his mind, the idea of that happening often haunted him. Harry was protected by some sort of ancient magic that had been put in place to ensure that time travellers wouldn't disrupt the flow of time with their mere thoughts, but even this theory couldn't settle Harry's worry completely, at times.

"You're a very good Occlumens, you know," Tom said softly, as if to inform Harry upon his trail of thought.

"I know," Harry admitted. "It's… how I've survived. It's habit, and I can't break it, as I've told you."

"Indeed," Tom said. He cracked a smile. "It only makes me wonder how brilliant your teachers must have been with the ability of Legilimency… There is always one Legilimens who is better than any Occlumens, after all."

"Probably not anymore," Harry said with a weak smile.

It took Tom a second to understand what Harry meant by this claim. He returned Harry's smile, somewhat more strongly. "Ah, yes, perhaps death has separated the best Legilimens and Occlumens…"

There was a short silence while the two of them thought about this. An idea drifted in Harry's mind, one that made him wonder whether it would be his fault if Tom became a great Legilimens. Maybe Tom would attempt to learn Legilimency well enough to one day read Harry's mind… Since this goal was impossible to achieve, it could lead Tom to obsess over it, making him become the best Legilimens known to the Wizarding world.

Harry felt slightly bad at the idea that Tom would think his imaginary ex-Occlumency Teacher was better at Legilimency than him, but Harry was sure Tom would get over the idea eventually. He would probably rationalize that Harry must have improved his Occlumency skills over the years, anyway…

Harry couldn't help but notice, suddenly, how very ironic it was that he had become such a good Occlumens. After enduring so many lessons with Severus Snape all those years ago, here Harry was, a greater Occlumens than Snape had ever been, without ever having to try or train… Though Legilimency hadn't been easy to learn on his own, Harry reflected.

"Do you think Nott and Lestrange will be able to learn Occlumency well enough?" Harry asked, perhaps to change the subject.

"Oh, I shall make sure they do," Tom said. "They will have no choice but to learn it, no matter how long it takes."

"Won't the others and the Knights get suspicious if the two of them are gone for too long?"

"If it becomes a problem, we'll find a way to fix the rising questions," Tom said. A smile then crept upon his face, "but understand that there are no longer any 'others', Harry…"

Harry was about to ask Tom what he meant by this, but he stopped himself when his mind registered Tom's meaning. He didn't want to hear Tom say it. The same large, wild smile that Harry had seen in the eleven-year-old Riddle was forming upon Tom's face…

"Our friends are now the Knights of Walpurgis," Tom said in little over a whisper, "and I am their Lord…"

The mad happiness within Tom was overpowering. Harry couldn't find his voice, or the words to say in response to this. All he could do was stare at Tom, fear washing over him.

In the silence, Tom let out a breath of laughter, his smile wide, as he began to pace the room, so consumed with his sense of elation that he couldn't notice Harry's concern, or the meaning behind his silence.

"We shall become great with this army of dedicated followers, the Knights to the Dark Arts," Tom told Harry quietly, unable to control his deranged happiness. "We shall become more powerful than he could ever imagine, spreading our views on the Dark Arts heavily while we train great beasts to join us too, reforming the world's shallow view upon the greatness of magic…"

Harry didn't know what to think, or what to do. He didn't know whether this was supposed to happen or not. He didn't know if he was causing the Death Eaters to be more powerful than they were supposed to be, or whether this is what had happened in what he still referred to as 'the past'. If he hadn't been here, Quentin would never have captured him, alarming Grindelwald's people. The Knights would have never have joined Tom, and the Death Eaters would be called Death Eaters, not the Knights of Walpurgis…

Yet Thorfinn Rowle, Harry remembered. He was a future Death Eater… or a son with the same name would be…

"We shall both be great leaders," Tom carried on, abruptly stopping to meet Harry's eyes again. His eyes were large with rapt attention, while Harry's were large with fright that Tom couldn't see. "We shall both be Lords, and we shall lead together… We could do great things together, Harry."

Tom gave another breath of laughter, this one stronger, as he walked forwards. He brought up a hand to brush the side of Harry's face, examining him as though he were a prised possession.

"We shall make history together," Tom breathed. "All who know of our power shall barely dare to speak our names when they refer to us, and we shall forevermore live in the glory of having defeated all our enemies, continuing the goals that our ancestors long ago dreamed to achieve…"

Harry hated hearing Tom say these things while he was so confused about what was happening to history with this event. He gazed up into the face that he so dearly loved, not knowing what to think, what to feel, while he struggled with his terror…

"Even Death shall not stop us," Tom continued, smiling unblinkingly down at Harry. "We will redefine the way this world works – we shall be unstoppable! As Lords we shall be known by each and every Witch and Wizard who dwells upon this earth, as Lords we shall be–"

"I don't want to be a Lord," Harry whispered.

Tom's smile faltered somewhat. He found a response to this after only a moment, however.

"You don't have to be if you don't want to," he said. "You can remain a second leader, if you would prefer it."

"I don't want to lead anyone," Harry informed Tom a little more strongly. "I don't want to… to help those Knights."

Tom was visibly confused. His hand slid away from Harry's face, and Harry took a step back when he had the chance, turning away from Tom's stare for a moment.

"Why are you so keen to lead these people?" Harry asked, if only to continue talking. He felt dazed, unable to think.

Tom looked almost offended. "I am their true leader, Harry. As the Heir of Slytherin I must–"

"We already have followers, we don't need them too," Harry said uneasily, terror at the idea of letting Tom rule the world washing over him in massive waves. He decided to sit down on Tom's bed again. He was unable to stand…

"Do you disapprove of the idea that our group is growing in numbers?" Tom inquired incredulously.

"No, I just…" Harry couldn't find the words to say. He buried his face in his hands, trying to think straight as he rubbed his palms against his eyes. If all of this was leading up to Tom rising to power more prepared that he was supposed to, it would all be Harry's fault…

"Is this because the Knights were working with Grindelwald's people?" Tom asked seriously, every note of joy gone from his voice. He sounded slightly less angry than before. "Is this because you feel it is treachery to your past friends and family if you allow people associated with Grindelwald to be ruled beneath you?"

Harry lifted his head up, bringing his hands together beneath his chin for a moment, fingers entwined. His vision was somewhat foggy as a result of rubbing his eyes, but he didn't look at Tom yet. He didn't know what to say, or what to do about any of this. His silence seemed to convince Tom that he had guessed correctly about what was bothering him.

"They are not truly Grindelwald's people," Tom stated forcibly, trying hard to convince Harry of this. "They are to work with us now, and what they were linked to in the past shan't affect you. Don't let your worry interfere with what I was meant – what I was destined – to fulfil."

Harry winced into space, fearing Tom's words too much to even look at him as he said this. Tom moved forwards to sit by Harry's side, reaching a hand to unlock Harry's fingers lightly, while his other hand reached up to touch Harry's face once more.

"By doing this we are taking away Grindelwald's false followers," Tom said softly, trying hard to make Harry appreciate this as much as he did. "Thus we are leaving Grindelwald's true people more defenceless, while we gain the help of Witches and Wizards that they were unable to win the dedication of."

"I still don't trust them," Harry whispered, examining the wooden floor in front of him determinedly.

"I'm not asking you to trust them," Tom said. "I'm asking you to trust me."

Harry said nothing to this, still examining the floor as though it was greatly interesting to him. Tom's breathing was still heavy in his doubtlessly continued undertone of contentment…

"Look at me," Tom asked of him.

When Harry met his eyes slowly, he was relieved to see that most of Tom's mad happiness was gone. Tom smiled when he gazed at Harry, but it was his usual smile, not the one Harry disliked. Tom moved his long fingers along the side of Harry's face gently while they watched each other. Tom then leant in to kiss Harry softly upon the lips.

After the first simple kiss, Tom moved away marginally, allowing their breath to mix while his nose touched Harry's very softly. A breath of laughter escaped his lips. When their lips met again, Tom kissed Harry less lightly, urging Harry to follow him in the rhythmic pattern that began. Harry followed, finding it was easier to do so. He felt Tom's other hand sliding along his thigh, moving up and down it slowly to suit the mood of the kiss…

The kiss deepened, and Harry found himself immersed within it. It was easy for him to forget about what was bothering him while Tom's lips pressed against his own, his tongue testing, touching, and teasing Harry's while his hand continued to rub against Harry's thigh, moving higher. Tom's hand ended up sliding up along Harry's hip, to Harry's slight disappointment… But Tom began moving to find a new resting position; sitting upon Harry's lap, his hands upon Harry's shoulders, and Harry didn't quite mind this change…

Harry found himself breathing heavily, relished in the feeling of Tom so close to him. Tom's lips moved away from his own to begin kissing his neck vibrantly. Their breathing was heavy with desire while Tom began moving closer, pressing their bodies together. Tom then moved his lips close to Harry's ear. He laughed softly again.

"I can't help but think," Tom began in a hiss, his breath causing Harry to feel disorientated with desire, "how funny it is that the potential next greatest Dark Wizard of all time is sitting here, upon your very lap…"

Harry opened his eyes. He said nothing to this while Tom remained so close to him. Despite the fact that Tom was whispering in his ear, their bodies pressed together, Harry was suddenly less interested in all of this…

"Although," Tom continued in a whisper, "I could always let you sit upon mine, if you'd prefer…"

Harry breathed out heavily in desire when he heard Tom say this. He then took a sharp intake of breath when Tom began kissing his ear and licking him in lust, sucking on his earlobe. Harry found that his eyes were closed again, while he struggled with thinking whether he should give in to Tom or not…

"So, which one would you prefer?" Tom pressed, his desire evident. "Would you like me to stay where I am?"

Harry was dizzy. He didn't want to think. "I… I don't know…"

"Well, that response won't do." Tom smiled. "You're going to have to give me a proper answer… 'Yes, my Lord' or 'No, my Lord' would be prefer–"

Tom stopped talking when he felt Harry moving. Harry saw him grinning widely at first, until he saw that Harry was moving away from him. Harry didn't even know what he was doing by the time he was halfway across Tom's room, running his hands through his hair. He felt sick when he turned back to face Tom vaguely, hoping he didn't notice his trembling fingers.

"What's wrong?" Tom asked, clearly lost as to why Harry was acting like this.

"I –I just –" Harry began, not even knowing what he was saying. He stood for a moment, the realization that everything could be going wrong petrifying him. "I just need some time to… to think about this…"

"To think about what?" Tom asked, his tone suggesting that he honestly couldn't decide what was bothering Harry so much.

"About everything that's happened!" Harry exclaimed, frustrated that Tom didn't understand this yet. "Everything that – that's changed. Everything that's going to…"

He couldn't find the words to explain himself at all. In the silence, Tom seemed to understand that it was Harry's past that was bothering him… Though, of course, Tom wasn't referring to Harry's true past in this assumption.

"The Knights of Walpurgis are not Grindelwald's people," Tom stated firmly once more, standing up as he did so. "How can you continue to worry that the two are related when you know that I was meant to lead the Knights? Grindelwald's people want nothing to do with joining us."

Harry thought about this, knowing he should be glad that the rest of Grindelwald's people were never going to join Tom now. Maybe some of the Knights would leave after the fights with Grindelwald anyway, Harry thought. Maybe some of them would die, leaving Tom not much more powerful than he would be without them…

Then another thought struck Harry. If it weren't for him, maybe the rest of Grindelwald's people would have joined Tom anyway, at one point or another. Witches and Wizards who were dedicated to the Dark Arts weren't often fussy about whose side they were on, after all. Whoever was the most powerful Dark Wizard of the time would get the same followers, often… So who was to say that Harry wasn't making Tom weaker, perhaps? Or else, he wasn't changing Tom's strength at all…

"Please," Tom said, "don't be so uneasy about all of this. I couldn't stand it if I had to give up my duty because of your distaste towards the Knights… You have every reason to hate Grindelwald's people for what they did to you, but the Knights are different."

Harry had to admit that he didn't think the Knights were all that different to Grindelwald's other people, but he didn't share this thought with Tom. He watched Tom for a moment, feeling a lot more reassured as he focused on the idea that it was just as likely that something similar to this had happened in 'the past'…

"I still don't know about this," Harry voiced truthfully.

"Give it a few days," Tom suggested. "Perhaps you'll get more used to them then…"

Harry appreciated the suggestion, even if he knew that wouldn't help him much. He nodded slowly in response to Tom's words, at any rate.

Tom waited for him to speak next.

"I didn't mean to suggest that you should give up the Knights of Walpurgis for me," Harry told Tom quietly, "I know they aren't really Grindelwald's people, it's just… it's just a lot to take in, I guess."

Tom smiled softly, closing the distance between himself and Harry. He took Harry's hand within his own, and gazed at him contently. Something about the way they watched each other seemed to inspire him.

"I love you too much to allow something like that to get between us," Tom said softly. "I hope you will get used to the Knights eventually."

"I probably will," Harry admitted. He squeezed Tom's hand softly, smiling for the first time. "I love you too."

Tom looked as though he would very much like to kiss Harry once more, but something stopped him. He seemed to be contemplating something seriously.

"What are you thinking about?" Harry asked softly, examining Tom's handsome face.

Tom didn't answer immediately. When he did, he still didn't smile. He was watching Harry's unmoving lips.

"I can't imagine other people feeling what we feel," he said.

Harry was somewhat confused by this. "What do you mean?"

"I can't imagine anyone feeling the power of love as strongly as we feel it," Tom explained, appearing to find the thought deeply interesting. "People use the word too loosely. Far too loosely, in fact… Unless this is something more than just mere love…"

"What could be more than love?" Harry asked, smiling slightly at Tom's words.

"I don't know," Tom admitted. His eyes found Harry's again. "But when you talk of love and trust in relation to our friends… I cannot help but mention that I would happily lose them all a thousand times over just to keep you safe."

Harry didn't know whether to smile or worry by this point. Though he supposed that the Death Eaters were nothing more than followers for Tom… or the Knights, or whatever Harry was supposed to call them now.

"I suppose everyone feels love in different ways," Harry said slowly, "but I don't think we feel it more than other people. Love is pretty powerful, after all. Dumbledore is known for claiming that it's the most powerful type of magic, as you know."

Tom seemed to wince somewhat. Harry hadn't really thought about Tom's loathing for Dumbledore – or even his own dislike for him – when he had said this. Yet Tom wasn't too offended, after a moment. He was still somewhat lost in thought when he spoke.

"I imagine Dumbledore probably believes that love is the reason why he won the battle against Grindelwald three years ago," Tom voiced almost sourly. "Though I presume he didn't tell that to the press… unless such ideas have truly ruined that ancient mind of his."

Harry was again confused as to how he should react to this. "You don't believe that love is the strongest type of magic, then?"

Tom took a moment to think about this, knowing that both a negative answer and a lie would annoy Harry… he attempted to avoid this dilemma.

"Magic can defeat the bond of love by causing any heart to ache while Death separates two beings… Even if the living being continues to think of their lost lover determinedly, the love will eventually fade and slip away."

"So, you're saying Death defeats all?" Harry asked.

"No," Tom said curtly.

Harry stared at Tom. He was vaguely startled that Tom had stated this so forcibly. Tom seemed to notice his mistake, however, for his voice was quieter when he spoke again.

"No, magic can defeat Death too, as you know…"

Harry hoped that Tom wouldn't lead this conversation back to Horcruxes, as he always hoped when immortality and death was mentioned by Tom…

"None of this explains why you think our love is stronger than other people's, though," Harry stated.

"I haven't found an explanation for the theory yet," Tom admitted. He turned his head to one side after saying this, analyzing Harry. "But maybe I have merely never liked someone as much as I love you…"

"Maybe," Harry repeated, smirking.

Tom returned the smile, before moving closer to kiss Harry's jaw. He kissed his way back to Harry's lips, dwelling there for a moment in thought. Harry encouraged the embrace to continue and deepen, as he wrapped his arms around Tom contently…

He felt a lot better now that he had spoken more about the Knights, and he was more willing to spend time alone with Tom peacefully tonight, even if his worry for the far future was still residing somewhere in the back of his mind…


Dear Readers: You know the drill for lately, there may be spelling mistakes but I'm too keen to upload this chapter to care xP

I hope, hope, hope I've gained my inspiration back…