"That was stupid of you, Harry!" Sirius exclaimed as he hugged his godson. Harry just made it to the hospital wing.
"Where have you been, mister Potter?" Snape asked.
"I needed to be by myself for a while." Harry lied smoothly. Dumbledore nodded, clasping his shoulder.
"Many death eaters were caught tonight because of you. And now the rest of the wizarding world will believe us that Voldemort is back." He said proudly. Harry simply shrugged as Madam Pomfrey attended to his wounds. Ron was in a bed near him, Hermione was across from him. Neville was somewhere down the row. They still haven't retrieved Umbridge yet.
"Professor," Harry licked his lips. "May I spend the summer at Sirius'?" Harry asked. Dumbledore shook his head.
"You know the blood wards have to be reinforced." He told Harry. Harry retained from rolling his eyes as he nodded.
"Yes sir." He sighed. Suddenly, Harry's eyes went wide.
'Harry?' Tom's voice echoed in his head.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Sirius asked.
'Tom?' Harry called out mentally. He heard Tom laugh in his head.
'I had to find out how to break down the barrier that was blocking our full connection.' Tom explained. Harry nodded.
"Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sorry, zoned out for a second." Harry said.
'It took you that little of time?' Harry asked exasperated.
'I'm a genius.' Tom said as if it were obvious. Harry could've sworn he rose an eyebrow and smirked. He shook his head, rolling his eyes.
'I'm with everyone at the moment, Tom.' Harry tried to tell him. 'Please forgive me if that little piece of knowledge wasn't at the forefront of my mind.' Harry said sarcastically.
'Touchy, touchy.' Tom mumbled. Harry laughed aloud. Everybody looked at him oddly.
"Er, thinking of a joke." He nodded. Tom snorted.
"You're acting a little odd, Harry." Sirius told him.
"Excuse me, I was only possessed by Voldemort." Harry sarcastically murmured.
"Any lingering thoughts from him?" Dumbledore asked worriedly.
"No, he left as soon as I thought of Sirius." Harry was sick of lying but it was the only way to keep Tom safe.
'Sorry.' Tom told him.
"Not your fault." Harry mumbled sleepily. The adults looked at each other.
"Not who's fault?" Dumbledore asked.
"Talking to myself." Harry said, closing his eyes. The day was emotionally exhausting.
'Goodnight Harry.' Tom's voice whispered in Harry's head. Harry fell asleep smiling.
Harry awoke to adults quietly conversing. He frowned. They were talking about him.
"What if Voldemort left something in Harry's mind? He could be dangerous." Sirius said. Harry's mouth fell open. How could his godfather think that?
"Even so, Sirius, we need to keep him safe. When he goes to the Dursley's we'll keep an eye on the house." Dumbledore assured.
"Yes, because that worked so well the last time." Snape snarled.
"Shut it, Sniveleus." Sirius growled.
"Stop it." Dumbledore ordered the two. They both quieted.
"Let's go see if he's awake." Sirius sighed. Harry quickly relaxed his face.
'Tom?' Harry called worriedly.
'I heard. I'll personally pick you up from the train station.' He promised.
'But what if they make me go to the Dursley's?' Harry started to panic. He didn't want to be abused and neglected again.
'I won't let them.' Tom said, sending a wave of calm to him. Harry calmed slightly.
'Thank you.' He whispered before opening his eyes.
Harry moaned as he reached for his glasses. He had been in the hospital wing so frequently he knew exactly how everything was set up.
"You okay, Harry?" Sirius asked. Harry nodded.
"I'm fine." He reassured.
"Harry, have you been having weird thoughts?" Dumbledore inquired. Harry looked at him confused.
"What type of weird thoughts, sir?" He asked innocently.
"Just anything you haven't thought before." Dumbledore hummed, cleaning his glasses.
"Well, I'm thinking I'm more hungry than Ron. I've never thought that before." Harry said, pretending to think. Dumbledore chuckled.
"Thank you Harry." He said, walking away with Snape. Harry stuck his tongue out behind his back.
"Why can't I stay with you?" He asked Sirius.
"It's dangerous." Sirius sighed. "I want you to, I really do. Dumbledore will never approve, though." Sirius shrugged sadly.
"I understand." Harry nodded sadly. He'd rather spend time with Tom than Sirius for once. Tom cooed at him teasingly.
'Shut up.' Harry blushed. Sirius looked at him oddly but started talking about what they would do once they rescued him from the Dursley's. Harry nibbled at his lip as he thought to when they would question him as to where he had been all summer.
Harry smiled, relieved. It was finally the ending feast. Ron and Hermione were talking to him. Harry sighed, not listening. He tried to block Tom out as he thought about their odd relationship.
They only talked mentally, Harry being too closely watched for him to sneak to the Chamber again. He had discovered Tom was really sweet, a hopeless romantic, and had an amazing sense of humor. He even loved to play practical pranks on his Death Eaters. Harry shook his head fondly.
It was hard to think that Tom had killed his parents. He was so charismatic. But Tom told him why he did it.
The prophecy was falsely transferred to him. Snape sent it in a letter but it was intercepted and changed. He thought it meant the Potters had a plan to train Harry so he would be raised to kill Tom. Tom hadn't heard the true prophecy until Harry told it to him.
But Harry didn't care about that. He never knew his parents, he'd given them up long ago. What mattered to Harry was what Tom told him after he explained the misunderstanding. He said he was sorry. That meant more to Harry then anything could ever possibly attempt to.
"Harry!" Hermione said, exasperated. She had been trying to talk to him for the past five minutes. Harry sighed.
"Yes?" He asked, turning to face her.
"We're worried about you. You've been zoning out a lot ever since that night at the ministry." Hermione told him, frowning slightly.
"I'm sorry Hermione. I've just been thinking a lot." He shrugged. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"That's not your thinking face, Harry. That's your 'I've better things to attend to' face." She said strictly. Harry shrugged again.
"Sorry." He told her, not meaning it in the slightest. Hermione just scoffed in disbelief as she turned to talk to Ron. Harry grimaced. He'd been upsetting his friends a lot that year.
'Not your fault.' Toms voice trickled into his mind.
'I thought you were at a meeting.' Harry frowned.
'I ended it.' Tom said easily.
'You still picking me up tomorrow?' Harry asked, biting his lip nervously.
'Of course.' Tom promised. Harry nodded.
'I'm so ready to leave.' He sighed, rubbing his eyes.
'I thought Hogwarts was your home?' Tom asked curiously.
'She is, but I hate constantly being watched and observed. I think I'll spend tonight in the Room of Requirement.' Harry decided, looking at Dumbledore, who was staring at him. He frowned and stood, not wanting dessert.
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
"I'm going to bed." He declared. Hermione nodded. Everybody knew Harry didn't like going back to the Dursley's. Nobody knew he was abused.
Harry walked to the Room of Requirement. Talking to Tom made his mind tired.
'Sorry.' Toms voice piped up. Harry chuckled.
"I forgive you." He said aloud. "Just talking in my mind is tiring, not listening." He explained.
'Are you sure it's safe to walk around talking to yourself?' Tom asked, his voice leaking with amusement.
"I would stick my tongue out at you." Harry stated smartly as he reached the seventh floor corridor. He walked back and forth, subconsciously thinking of Tom even while he thought about the Gryffindor common room. He walked in and raised his eyebrow.
"This isn't what I asked for." He looked around. There was dark shades of purple and forest green, giving the room a strange calm sense, like a blanket. The four poster bed had a heavy duvet, a midnight purple with silver lining. There was a large fireplace with a comfortable, plushy loveseat resting in front of it.
'That's my room!' Tom exclaimed. Harry looked around in approval.
"Wouldn't expect the Dark Lord to have such a nice room. I must've subconsciously been thinking of you." Harry teased. "Do I get to sleep in your room when I'm over?" Harry asked, removing his clothes. Tom went silent.
'If you want.' Tom said after awhile. Harry climbed into the soft, fluffy covers.
"I do." Harry insisted before drifting off to sleep.
Harry was worried. He had shrunk his trunk and put it in his pocket as he entered the train. What if Tom didn't pick him up? What if the Weasley's or some of Dumbledore's men caught Tom?
'I'll be fine. Only you, miss Weasley, and Dumbledore know what I look like. Besides, I'm already at the platform.' Tom reassured.
"Right." Harry nodded. "W\hat if they try to talk to me?" He bit his lip.
'Relax Harry.' Tom ordered gently. Harry sighed as he slid down the wall to sit next to the door.
Finally, the train jolted to a stop. Harry stood and shot out the door as soon as it opened.
He sped past the Weasley's and Padfoot, who barked. He ran straight into Tom, who he had seen leaning against the wall.
"I was scared you wouldn't come." Harry admitted, burying his head in Toms shoulder. Tom kissed the shaggy head fondly.
"I promised you, Harry." He reminded. He took a step to take a good look at Harry, who had changed into muggle clothes. "We'll have to take you shopping. What are you wearing, hand me downs?" Tom scrunched his nose. Harry blushed.
"Yeah." He bit his lip. Tom wasn't expecting that answer.
"We'll get you all the clothes a proper wizard should have." Tom promised. Harry grinned.
"Harry!" The Weasley's voices called. Harry paled and looked wide eyed at Tom. Tom sighed, this boy was a nervous wreck.
Tom kissed him, to reassure him, and, well, he wanted to. Harry stumbled against the wall as Tom licked at his lower lip. Harry gasped in surprise. Tom, taking advantage of the open mouth, explored with his tongue. Harry tasted of chocolate and peppermint. Tom cupped his cheek gently.
Harry's stress seemed to melt away as his hands rested at Toms lower back. He never heard the Weasley's walk by and Hermione complain about public affection.
Finally, Tom pulled away, smugly.
"We should do that more often." Harry breathed. Tom laughed, grabbing his hand and leading him to the outside of the platform.
Tom directed him to a dark alley just by the train station. Harry blushed as he realized him and Tom were still holding hands. He didn't let go. Tom smiled at him as he held out a chain.
Harry licked his lips. He trusted Tom. He took ahold of the chain.
Tom, hearing the last thought, looked in surprise at Harry, before being whisked away is a stomach churning and blurry whirlwind.