A/N: Oh boy! Sorry about the wait there, folks! We were working on book three and got a bit distracted, but now that we have a few chapters of book three, I feel safe posting this, now. Right now, we're working on a project together for April Camp Nanowrimo. Can any of you guess? Look through our FFN profile and you may get an idea! Looks like it'll be a real long one, too. But don't worry. Not as long as Time Twister, and not as short as Obscured Memories. In the meantime, here's the next chapter to tide you over! Enjoy, review, kudos, etc! ~Kas


"Teach me parseltongue."

"I- What?" Harry stared at him, looking startled.

"Teach me parseltongue," he repeated.

"I don't know if that's something I can exactly teach? I mean, I barely know when I'm speaking it half the time. You guys have to keep pointing it out to me when I do slip up."

"Maybe we can teach you when you're using it."

"In exchange for me teaching you how to speak it?"

"Of course."

"You're horrible," Harry sighed, pushing over the books he was using to do his Defense homework. It was mostly cherry-picking the more interesting quotes from Lockhart's books. "Alright, get over here." Draco beamed and sat in front of him. "Okay, right, first things first. How much do you know already?"

"I don't know." It was rather unclear how much had passed over due to Riddle's possession of him so far, although it was most likely only a temporary occurrence.

"Great, that makes two of us. Okay, um, you're gonna have to tell me when I start speaking in Parseltongue." With that, Harry was cycling through common greetings, phrases, and insults.

Draco slowly nodded. "I caught about... half to three quarters of that." The smaller words, mostly, and the part where Harry slipped back into English during a rather creative insult.

"Okay, good, so maybe you're just picking it up from... Exposure? Maybe? I had Hermione-" The barest hitch in the name, Harry speaking quicker. "-help me look some stuff up. Parseltongue can't really be learned, but it's passed down through magical bloodlines. Maybe you had the talent? I mean, the Malfoys and Blacks go back pretty far, yeah?"

Draco shook his head. "No, because then I'd have already known it. Same with my mother and father." You didn't just gain a new ability like that out of nowhere, and the fact he had was...worrying.

"Then maybe you always had the ability but it took all of this for it to come out," Harry shrugged, staring at Draco for a moment before humming. "Maybe you need to hear the words and know what they mean for it to make sense."

"Maybe," he said quietly. "Go again. I'll see what I can pick out." Nodding, Harry thought for a moment before repeating the sentence he had just said, only this time in Parseltongue. Draco's eyes widened. "Wait, say again?"

Harry's own eyes widened before he grinned widely. "That's it! You were just speaking Parseltongue!"

"I was? How do you know?" Draco frowned, looking down at himself. "I was?"

"Definitely were, I could hear the hissing now that I'm listening for it."

"Oh. Well. I didn't know that."

"Okay, okay, let's try this again." Harry shifted on the bed to where he was closer to Draco, hands cupping his cheeks - the child had a habit of doing that, strangely enough. Especially more recently. "Try focusing when I speak, okay?" Taking a breath, Harry focused for a moment before speaking again. "Can you understand this?"

Draco's eyes widened and he nodded. "I understand you." That- That was brilliant.

"Good, then we have something to work with."

::

"Do you think we should go talk to Hagrid again? We said we'd tell him if you got possessed again, and we still haven't." Draco looked to Harry and gave him a nod. Draco was at Harry's side constantly, since the attack earlier that day. They had retreated to the dorms about an hour after sitting with the others, Pansy and Ron claiming they'd stay behind and keep an eye on things. "We should go now. I don't think this can wait any longer." Draco gave another nod, rising to stand while the rest of him protested. They'd been sitting for a bit, now...

Harry took his hand and pulled Draco along down the steps, the two pausing and blinking at how many Gryffindors were in the common room, "Oi, did you two hear?" The Weasley twins were looking irate, still in their Quidditch robes. "They're putting even more rules out! No one is allowed in the halls unless escorted by a teacher."

"Fuck the rules," Draco said with a shake of his head. Language, Riddle tsked. Draco made sure to devote a portion of his thoughts to swearing up a storm towards Riddle.

"You two headin' off back towards the hospital wing?" Fred asked quietly, looking between them. "McGonagall is probably in her office, if you want to go check in with her."

"We'll keep that in mind," he huffed quietly, dragging Harry along. As soon as they were past the sight of the Fat Lady - who scolded them all the while - Harry was digging in his bag. When had the child grabbed his schoolbag? Draco hadn't noticed him doing that.

"Right, I think this calls for my dad's old cloak," Harry grinned, still looking just a bit too worn. "Never hurts to be careful, right?" Draco paused before smiling and nodding.

"Right." An invisibility cloak, Riddle marvelled. Harry Potter, what secrets are you hiding... If they did this right, secrets Riddle would never discover.

"C'mon, then." Harry threw the cloak over them, stepping as close to Draco as he could get. "Right. I think that's all of us covered. After you, then?" Draco wrapped an arm around Harry and nodded.

"Let's go."

The Weasley twins hadn't been joking about the new rules, and the increased security it seemed to come with. Already teachers and ghosts were scouring the halls, all of them looking on edge and constantly ready for an attack. It was a miracle they managed to get out the front doors - a miracle and a well timed conversation that they used to cover up their noise.

"Let's go. At least no one is patrolling outside." That was probably going to be their only stroke of good luck for a while, especially with how they had to be careful to not let their ankles be seen as they made their way down the hills.

"This is so much easier when it's dark out," Harry grumbled, keeping Draco from tumbling forward. "Almost there."

Draco gave a nod and when they got to the hut, he raised his hand and knocked. The door swung up far quicker than they were expecting, Hagrid standing there with a crossbow. When he didn't see anyone, he narrowed his eyes down at their general direction. "Alright, you two, get on in here and tell me why you're riskin' so much comin' down here."

"It happened again," Draco blurted. They were bustled inside, Harry taking the cloak off of them. Hagrid had just closed the door before the words seemed to sink in, the man nodding with a heavy sigh.

"Aye, the attacks started up again. Was hopin' you two burnin' that diary you found would mean the end of it."

Draco shook his head vigorously. "It's not. He-" Draco's words cut off in a moment, that familiar laughter ringing through his head as words came out that were once again not his own. "-came back! The diary must not have been destroyed properly!" Beside him, Harry's hands turned into fists and he reached for his wand. Draco could feel Riddle's satisfaction. "Don't worry though, Hagrid. I think I know a way to stop all of this." Hagrid stared, his mouth falling open. Did- Had he figured it out? Was it- "Hagrid? Hagrid, what's wrong?" Oh, no, no, no. It was too late for that.

"You-" Hagrid's roar was cut short by banging on his door, all three of them freezing before they heard a familiar voice speaking up.

"Hagrid, if you would be so kind as to let us in?" The moment Dumbledore's voice was heard, there was a vicious curse in his head that he knew wasn't his own thoughts.

Hagrid's face hardened and he looked to Harry. "Watch him." Harry gave a sharp nod, pulling and pushing Draco into the corner of the hut and throwing the cloak around them. "Professor Dumbledore, sir."

"I'm sorry to come to you like this without warning, Hagrid." Dumbledore was smiling politely on the other side of the door, Cornelius Fudge standing beside him. "It seems our esteemed Minister of Magic has cause to be here, however."

"'S that so? Something I can help you with, Minister?" From under the cloak, Harry was breathing unevenly, shaking against Draco's side and holding a hand over his mouth as if trying to keep Riddle silent.

"Ah, well, you see... Terrible business, Hagrid, terrible business. I'm here on behalf of the school governors, and the parents of the students that have already contacted me."

Hagrid's eyes narrowed as his hand twitched towards the crossbow. "Why's that, then?" Fudge blustered his way through a few more pleasantries, face pale and drawn.

"They want me to take you in, Hagrid. Just until we can prove who it is who's really behind all of this-"

"Take me in? You can't mean Azkaban! You wouldn't!"

"The governors have already signed the majority vote, Hagrid, there's nothing else I can do about the matter! It won't be for long, but you and Albus will be removed from your posts for the foreseeable future until-"

"Remove Dumbledore! There'll be a killing next if you do that, whether or not I'm here, I'll guarantee that!" No, no, no, no, no. Removing Hagrid was bad enough but removing Dumbledore- They couldn't do that! Hagrid was right, take away Dumbledore and Riddle might-

"Now, now, Hagrid, we must respect the Ministry's views on this," Dumbledore spoke calmly, gaze traveling around the room and landing on Harry and Draco's hiding spot for a single heartbeat. "I'm sure things will be cleared up soon enough in due time." Draco grabbed Harry's hand tightly, barely aware Riddle had relinquished control, again. There was going to be a killing next, no doubt. "Although I must say, Minister, you'll find that I will have only truly left the school when none are here to remain loyal to me. You'll also find that help will always be available at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

Dumbledore's gaze swept over to them one last time before he offered Fudge a cordial smile, walking out the door and humming a light tune to himself. Draco looked to Harry with a frown. What on earth was the old codger going on about, now? Harry shrugged, looking back as Hagrid spoke next, voice rather loud, "Well, all I have to say is that if anybody wanted the truth of what all was going on, they should be talkin' to the Hogwarts ghosts." Hagrid gave Fudge a nervous look as he cleared his throat and headed for the door. "And someone will need to be feedin' Fang while I'm away."

"Of course, of course..." Fudge's voice faded as the three left the hut, Draco staring at Harry. It was a long moment before Harry dropped his hand, staring back at Draco with wide eyes.

"Dumbledore's gone."

"I know." I know! Freedom does taste sweet...

"What- What did Hagrid mean by the Hogwarts ghosts?"

"I think I know what he means. Myrt- Ah ah. Can't give away too much."

"Unfortunately for you, he's already given away just enough," Harry grinned before jerking the cloak off of them and stuffing it in his bag, forcibly pulling Draco by the hand. It must have startled Riddle enough to allow it, Harry rushing them out of the hut as fast as he could and towards the castle.

"What are you doing- You let go of me!" Riddle jerked his hand away just as they got to the doors. Harry didn't even bother to try and wrestle him back, only throwing the doors open and panting as he raised his voice.

"The Minister of Magic just took Dumbledore away!" With how fast they had been running, Harry looked panicked and out of breath, looking for all the world as a scared twelve-year-old. The smirk he shot back towards Riddle as teachers and ghosts swarmed them however was purely Slytherin.

The boys were hurried to their dorm, where it was proclaimed they were on house arrest. Riddle nearly did Harry in then and there, he was so furious. Draco, though, was giddy. As they were shoved inside and pushed up to their dorm, Harry spoke quietly enough for only them to hear, "If I can't keep an eye on you myself, I suppose a few dozen others will have to do."

Draco beamed over at Harry. "He's not pleased." He remembered the sight of a displeased Voldemort, and he had never been more pleased to have it happen again.

"Good," Harry smirked, brushing himself off with a casual air. "That ought to take care of you two for the time being. I'll grab Ron and start looking into the matter about the ghosts. Try asking around the common room if you can? Gossip travels fast, someone has to know something." Draco nodded.

"Myrtle," he repeated. He reached forward and clung tightly to Harry.

"Myrtle? Like... Moaning Myrtle the ghost in the girl's bathroom?"

"She'll know." Giving a nod, Harry dug his cloak out, hugging Draco tightly before disappearing under it.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. We're going to fix all of this Draco, I promise."

Draco nodded and waved to Harry, watching him leave. "He's going to stop you."

He's been lucky. Luck never lasts long against skill such as mine. Draco snorted at that, thinking of multiple incidents with Potter and Harry alike.

"That's what you think."

If you think your precious Savior can save you now then you are sorely mistaken. Dumbledore is driven from the school and your oaf of a bastard giant as well. You have nothing.

"I have more than you ever will."

::

Draco had just rolled up his last bit of homework - being possessed was no reason to fall behind - when the door slammed open and Harry appeared in front of him. "The bathroom- The bathroom!"

Draco frowned, tilting his head. "The bathroom?"

"Not just that but the girl's bathroom!" Harry was grinning wide as could be, near bouncing around the room. "Oh, Salazar Slytherin was brilliant! He put it in the one place no one would look, the one place no one would think to look! He was a bloody genius."

"The girls' bathroom? Why not the boys'? That would make more sense, at least." Draco winced. That certainly was not him. Tom was firmly in control, the laughter echoing around his head.

"Because it's the perfect place to hide it! No one would think Slytherin would put the Chamber there, and no one ever listened to Myrtle because, c'mon, she's Myrtle. It's perfect!"

"I told you Myrtle. She told me everything in my sixth year." How did Tom know that? How did he know that? There was no way he should be able to know that! Don't forget, Draco. I'm in your head.

"Right, right, and I mean, it took a bit for her to trust us, but she told us and oh it's so brilliant! We can tell the teachers right now and have the proof! It'll all be over tonight!" Harry was already unfolding the cloak and wrapping it around his shoulders, grin wide and ecstatic.

"You can tell the teachers, remember? I can't do anything." This was wrong, this was- Oh, okay, Harry was hugging an evil Dark Lord. Lovely.

"We'll get this fixed, me and Ron, okay? By tonight the school will have proof, Dumbledore will be back, and Tom Riddle is finally going to be out of your head. I promise, Draco, this ends tonight."

Tom nodded. "Tonight," he repeated. Harry beamed and gave a tighter hug before letting go and scrambling for the door.

"There's still plenty of people downstairs too, so you'll be safe if Tom takes over! Be back soon, Draco, I promise!" Harry closed the door, footsteps heard going down the stairs before Tom was laughing. Laughing with Draco's voice.

"I must say, your little Chosen One is quite interesting! All that he's accomplished in such a short time... He would have been such a good apprentice, in another life." How dare you! He would never willingly follow you! "Yet he so willingly follows you, a former Death Eater of mine who strays too far to ever be on the side of the Light?" The keyword there being former, 'Tom.' "Do not call me by that name. Although..."

Tom stood off the bed, brushing his - his - robes off with a quiet laugh, "I suppose it doesn't matter what you say or do now. After all, you heard your precious Chosen One. It all ends tonight." What- What are you doing? Where do you think you're going? You can't leave. "As cute as it's been watching you two try to contain me, you seem to be under the impression I'm another student that is easily tricked."

Picking up Draco's wand, Tom gave it flick before a sensation of cold was running down their spine. "Hawthorn, hm? More conflicted than you let on even to yourself, aren't you? Let's see... Unicorn hair, is it? Quite a conundrum you are, Draco Malfoy. Not my usual wand but I suppose it will work well enough for the time being." Another flick and the door was opening, Tom strolling down the stairs and through the students without even one glancing his way. Where are you going? What are you doing? Draco tried as hard as he could to fight against him, but there was no way of getting control back, it seemed.

There were a few more spells cast, ones Draco recognized as silencing spells, and ones to keep their presence hidden, "I must say, your magic is quite settled for the age your body is stuck at. It's a shame I'll have to kill you tonight, you would have made such a good follower again." I would never follow you- Wait- What?! "Oh, dear... You thought you'd be surviving this? Oh, Draco. Already of age but still such a child."

Don't you dare harm Harry! You so much as put a hair out of place- "Or you'll what? Stop me?" Tom laughed, the sound so wrong when it was from Draco's voice. "There is nothing you can do to stop this." I'll become a poltergeist! "Oh how very terrifying," Tom drawled, strolling out across the grounds of Hogwarts and straight to where Hagrid had recently bred a new clutch of roosters. "Such a shame your magic is too unstable for the curses I prefer... I suppose we do need the blood anyways."

It's a basilisk... Basilisks hate the call of a rooster. That's why you killed them, before. Draco wished he had the ability to wince as Tom strangled the roosters one by one, unmindful of the scratches from the talons and beaks. "Oh dear, a forgetful memory, Draco? You already figured out it was a Basilisk weeks ago. Or does it seem like days? Incredible how things blur together once one is tired." No, I knew it was a basilisk- It's honestly just difficult trying to decipher your behavior from that of a psychotic sociopath, and- Well, no, that describes you perfectly, doesn't it, Tom?

"As if your behavior was any different. I can see your memories, Draco, remember? I can see everything you've ever done and oh, Draco. We are more alike than you will ever know."

Perhaps you're right... Both were silent as Tom flicked Draco's wand, the blood of the roosters gathering into a nearby bucket that was charmed with a disillusionment charm as well. I've experienced emotion beyond anger and satisfaction. That's the difference. I know regret. I know sadness. I know love. You never will.

"NO!" Magic wild for a moment, Tom's voice near shaking with a rage Draco knew far too well. "You know nothing. You know nothing of true strength, only weakness. You die tonight because you let these foolish things convince you that there is more than raw strength. You and your Chosen One die tonight if it is the last thing I do."

Even if I die tonight... I'll have lived a better life than you could ever dream.

"Keep that thought in mind, Draco Malfoy. It might be the last you have."