Chapter 25 (Tom's POV):

This was excellent. Phase one was successfully complete…Harry had left the Light side. Now, for phase two - give him no reason to go back. He liked the boy, he really did, and he certainly didn't want to wage war and kill him. Still, he would not stand for Harry working against him…if it came back to that he would step in. Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that. He just had to be careful, subtle. After all, if he couldn't have Harry, no one else was allowed to either. Harry carried his mark and he didn't give up what belonged to him very easily. He suppressed a smile: Harry would have a fit to be thought of as a belonging. The boy had a very strong will - just like him. Maybe that was why Harry had always been his favourite.

He didn't want to quench that spirit, no, definitely not. He, to even his own surprise, didn't want Harry on his knees calling him lord and master. He had - dare he say it? - grown fond of the emerald eyed snake lion. His presence was…liberating. He didn't give a damn if Tom relaxed when they were alone, he wasn't constantly looking for weakness. He didn't care for societies rules, only his own. Harry was freedom in all of its connotations, he would never get rid of that. He did however want Harry to stand with him. He enjoyed the boy's company…but that didn't mean he wouldn't take control. He certainly wasn't the type to change for anyone, even Harry James Evans Potter. Not really, anyway.

Tom slipped down the corridors, as silent as a ghost. He could hear voices - Zevi and Harry. He was about to walk out when something stopped him, melding him to the shadows. They were talking about him.

"Can't or won't?" Harry asked. Zevi stared at the smaller teen.

"Both," he said quietly. "Tom isn't…I don't suppose you realise how lenient he is with you?" He saw Harry shift slightly, his expression guarded.

"What do you mean?" Zevi sucked in a shaky breath.

"When Tom's with you he's…different, better. He's everything that you see in him. With us, he's…well, lets just say that he's earned his reputation that you don't cross him."

Zevi was so dead.

"I -""-The point is, Harry. You're not always around, you don't see everything about him, you can't. He's protected around you, he doesn't act the same as he might do when you're not there…" there was a pause. "I know you say that he's not Voldemort, and I agree, but he's not as good guy and innocent as you might let you believe. He's dangerous. I hope you understand that."
"I do," Harry said seriously. "Don't worry about it." Zevi had a strange expression on his face.

Okay, this was enough.

"Spreading gossip about me, Prince?"

Harry's POV

His head whipped up, alarmed. Oh lord, how much of that had Tom heard. Tom's face was carefully unreadable, but his eyes were as cold as ice. Instinctively, he shifted in front of Zevi.

"Tom…"

"I'm not talking to you, Harry," Tom said. His voice was soft and smooth, just like always. He set his jaw stubbornly. "Zevi, if I could have a word?" It was phrased as a question, but it wasn't, not really. Harry's eyes narrowed.

"What is your problem? You can't just ream somebody in for talking to me. Just because I'm not on the light side anymore, that doesn't mean I'm on yours either. You don't control me."

Tom's jaw tightened slightly, his eyes snapping away from Zevi. Harry nudged him, silently suggesting that now would be a good time to get away. Zevi did just that, disappearing down the corridor. Harry could feel adrenaline and guilt coursing through his veins. If Zevi got in trouble with Tom for helping him…

It had been such a long time since he had properly argued with Tom, it seemed alien almost. Was Zevi right? Was Tom really that lenient with him?

"You would trust Zevi's word over mine?" Tom queried delicately, a hurt look on his face. Oh damn it…was he actually hurt or was he just being manipulated?

"I form my own opinions," he replied, cautiously. Tom stared at him for a moment, his gaze probing, assessing, analysing.

"Really, because that's not what it looked like to me," Tom answered, a hint of ice weaving into his tone. His expression had steeled. "Yesterday, you were leaving the light side…joking…everything like that. Now, well, look at you. You're watching my every move like you expect me to choke you in your sleep."

"Just because I know you're not Voldemort that doesn't mean I don't believe that you have ulterior motives, I've always made that very clear," he finished pointedly. "What are you getting so riled up about? Unless he's touched a nerve."

Tom moved fast, unbelievably fast, slamming him up against the wall. He was almost starting to regret taking the heat from the Prince heir.

"You would prefer me like this?" Tom hissed, very close to his face. "Is that what you're looking for? Some confirmation?"

"Get off me…"

"If you have some complaint, do me the favour and say it to my face. It's rude to talk behind a person's back. I don't believe I've ever pretended to be something I'm not with you."

"Are you telling me Zevi is right?" he asked testily. Tom arched his brows, letting go of him just as quickly. He straightened slowly, warily.

"I've never pretended to be something I'm not. I'm on the dark side, you know that. I once asked you to do me a favour and tell me if I was wasting my time with you, am I?"

"You want me to join you," Harry realised. Tom smirked, just slightly. "That's what you're doing here."

"Among other reasons," he conceded. Harry blinked once, then twice. Before he could speak, Tom continued. "I'll be frank with you, Harry. I like you, I have no intention of making you a death eater…but yes, I do want you to join me. You're too much of a threat to be allowed to walk unchecked."

Harry could feel his heart thumping a samba. He felt like such an idiot! Of course that was Tom's reason for being here! What else could it have been?

"On the same vein, Harry," Tom smiled softly. "I'm only doing the same as you are."

"I'm not trying to convert you," he started, before pausing. Tom smirked.

"You're trying to prevent me from being Voldemort…you're trying to persuade me to change my views. Treat others as you would like to be treated. I'll see you at dinner."

Well hell.

(Tom's POV)

That had been a bit of a hurdle…but by the look on Harry's face and the fact he hadn't exploded, he would say that he handled it pretty well. Of course, he'd never planned to be honest…but maybe it was better this way. It would get him some more points when everything came to light. He wanted Harry on his side as Harry, not as some bubble wrapped idiot who had to be treated like glass. Not that he didn't plan on handling his fellow parslemouth carefully…still, Harry trusted him, jokes aside. He'd listened.

That had been too close, anyhow. He needed to have a little chat with Zevi on keeping his mouth shut.

Yes, everything was falling into place.

AN: Well, here we go. Enjoy? Thanks so much for all the reviews, they have kept me going! Much appreciated… - The Fictionist