batsutousai | FIC: Reclaim ~ Chapter 5 ~ R ~ Tom/Harry

Title: Reclaim
Author:

sdrana
Pairings: Harry/Tom(Voldemort), Salazar/Godric, Rowena/Helga, Sirius/Remus, Gin/Ted, Herm/???
Warnings: This will have graphic slash, not-so-graphic femslash, and not-so-graphic het, and you've got a bit of angst in this chapter too
Summary: Sequel to Abandon!
In love with the man he’s expected to kill and member of the esteemed Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter must fight in a war in which he is divided. Can he lead his world to peace?
Disclaim Her: No more summer. *sniffle*

Key:
Mind-speak
:Parseltongue:
’Written thoughts’
°°Phoenix speech°°

-

Chapter 5

-

Harry considered Tom's words after Remus had forced Sirius to calm down, as Tom's words echoed in his mind in the silence, forcing him to think about them seriously. Do I really not like people caring for me? Do I get angry at them? Harry frowned. He'd never been fond of Poppy's care, though he liked her as a person, but plenty of students complained about her, so Harry had always considered himself one of the many.

I got ticked off at everyone when they drugged me, Harry realised numbly. And then I blew up at Tom at my first chance. I'm surprised I haven't screamed at Remus or Sirius yet...

Harry's thoughts were cut off by the bedroom door opening, followed by a pair of running feet. "Harry!!" Ula sobbed as Sirius caught her, just shy of the bed.

Harry frowned at his godfather. "Let her go."

"No jumping, Ula," Tom ordered, coming out onto the patio with Herm, Gin, and Luna. "Black, you can let her go."

"Sorry," Ula murmured, seating herself on the edge of the lounge Sirius had conjured for Harry. "You okay, Harry?"

Harry blinked a few times at the concern in the girl's eyes. "Yes, I'm fine," he replied, thinking, I must have really scared her. Dammit.

I did tell you that you were scaring people, didn't I? Tom's cool mind voice replied.

Harry hung his head. "I'm sorry, you guys."

A loud slap made Harry look up. Gin, it appeared, had just smacked Tom. 'What did you say to him?!'

Tom frowned down at the witch, rubbing his jaw with care. "The truth."

"Gin," Harry chided his sister when she looked ready to smack the Dark Lord again. "You're going to upset Gal."

Gin gave him an incredulous look. 'If it didn't upset him the first time, I highly doubt it will the second.'

"If you smack him too many times, he might actually retaliate, you know," Herm offered dryly.

"It's a tempting thought," Tom agreed, giving Gin a cold look. "Don't slap me again."

'We're supposed to be here to cheer Harry up and you start making him all sad again!' Gin replied furiously.

"Gin, your fighting is upsetting Harry," Luna slipped in softly.

Gin's gaze shot around to a frowning Harry. 'I'm sorry, big brother.'

Harry offered his sister a stern look. "Behave yourself," he ordered, then turned to his lover. "You too, Tom."

"I plan to," Tom replied gently.

"Humph." Harry turned back to Ula. "Tell me how classes have been."

Ula's eyes lit up and she jumped right into a story about Ronan blowing up a cauldron in Severus' class, earning himself three detentions with the bat. She concluded with, "And that was today, so we'll have to see how he likes his detentions."

Harry laughed. "I'll bet Severus is going to make him scrub out cauldrons."

"Or worse, clean out the trophy case," Herm threw in with mock horror.

'No! Clean the dungeon toilets with a toothbrush and no magic!' Gin added, eyes wide.

"Help Hagrid clean out the animals' cages," Luna offered mildly.

"Ick." Ula scrunched her nose at all the ideas. "I never knew there were so many forms of punishment."

"You obviously don't get detention often enough," Tom offered dryly.

"I've never blown up a cauldron. Teachers just make you write lines if you get caught fighting in class," Ula retorted.

"Except Tom," Harry chuckled.

"Except Tom. He always made us go up to the front of the classroom and demonstrate the proper way to hex someone," Ula agreed, shooting the Dark Lord an annoyed look.

"Look on the bright side, he could have been having you demonstrate the effects of the Unforgivables," Sirius tossed over, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"I only use that approach for errant Death Eaters and mutts," Tom shot back.

"That's a relief," Harry joked, running a hand over his brow as if wiping away sweat.

Tom shot his lover an amused look. "Harry, the only Unforgivable that works on you would probably affect me, too."

"Eh?" Harry blinked a few times.

"The connection you two share," Herm offered philosophically. "To cast a spell of that degree upon one of the two of you might actually hurt the other."

"Or, perhaps, the similar cores would affect the other too," Harry murmured, frowning thoughtfully.

"Possible, but unlikely." Tom shrugged.

"Let's not test it, hm?" Remus said dryly, getting a laugh from everyone.

Poppy poked her head out. "Dinner?"

"Sounds good," Tom agreed before glancing over at Harry. "Should we eat in the main dining room?"

"Now, To–" Poppy started, but a sharp look from the Dark Lord silenced her.

"Yeah." Harry nodded. "That way, we can all sit comfortably."

"And you won't be coped up in the bedroom," Remus pointed out.

Harry grinned. "Sounds like heaven."

"Do you need help, love?" Tom asked with a touch of concern as the students and Herm were herded back into the bedroom by Poppy.

Harry bit his lower lip in indecision. "I–" He frowned. "Yes, I suppose so."

"Cane, supporting arm, or piggy-back?" Sirius cut in, getting between Tom and Harry with a large smile.

Harry laughed as Tom let out an annoyed sound. "Remus, come get your mutt!"

"Come on, Padfoot. I think you've ticked off Tom enough for the moment."

"Hey!" Tom turned and scowled at Remus, who grinned. "What do you mean, 'for the moment'?"

Harry rolled his eyes and tugged on Tom's robes. He waited until he had the older man's attention again before saying, "Carry me?"

"Of course." Tom smiled faintly and picked Harry up, his smile widening when the teen wrapped his arms around his neck. "All right?"

"Yup." Harry grinned. "Let's see what sort of trouble those idiots are causing."

"I don't think I want to know," Tom moaned, starting towards the main dining room.

Harry laughed.

-~/\~-

Once dinner had finished and all the dishes had been cleared away by house-elves, Harry turned to Gin and Luna with a serious look. "Do you have those lists with you?"

"No working while you're away from the school," Herm replied before either student could give their leader an answer.

"Don't you–" Harry started, turning on his best friend.

Tom cleared his throat loudly. "Herm's right. You don't get to work on anything Junior related until Poppy deems you're well enough to return to Hogwarts."

Harry turned to Poppy, eyes pleading for help, but the matron just frowned and shook her head. "You're far too stressed when it comes to the Juniors. Give it a rest."

"But–"

"No," Tom said firmly, giving Harry a stern look.

Harry stared at his lover for a long moment, then picked up a spoon that had been left at his place and threw it at the Dark Lord. "I hate you."

The silverware hit the middle of the man's forehead with a dull 'thunk' and Tom closed his eyes with a muted sigh. Everyone watched on with a touch of fear, half expecting the Dark Lord to strike back, but all Tom did was pick up the spoon and place it next to his own before giving Harry a mild look. "Do me a favour and don't throw your silverware at me."

"Shut up!" Harry threw his napkin at the man then, eyes flashing angrily.

"Harry..." Herm whispered as Tom set the napkin down next to the spoon he'd already been hit with.

"You shut up too!" Harry added, turning on his best friend.

Tom shot up like a snake, grabbing Harry's hand before the teen could throw anything at anyone else. "You will calm down, Mr Potter, or you will be confined to your bed again," Tom hissed, easily holding his thrashing lover.

"Let me go! Let me go!!" Harry screamed, then bit Tom.

"Remus, a Calming Charm?" Sirius whispered to the man on his left. Remus nodded and both men turned their wands on the thrashing teen, simultaneously casting the Calming Charm.

Harry slumped in Tom's arms, a single tear running down his cheek. "I hate you..."

Tom nodded to Remus and Sirius thankfully before kneeling before Harry, who was slumped in his chair moodily, despite the Calming Charm. "Now what's wrong?"

"Leave me alone."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

"None of your business."

"It's plenty of my business. I love you and I'm concerned. Please tell me what's wrong?" Tom whispered, reaching up to cup one of Harry's cheeks gently.

"I don't need your concern. I don't need anyone's concern," Harry grumbled, pulling away from the gentle touch.

"Ah." Tom nodded. "And why's that?"

Harry turned away.

"No, don't look away from me," Tom ordered gently, turning Harry's chin back around so their eyes could meet. "Why don't you think you need anyone's concern?"

"...never needed it before..."

"Ah, yes. The Dursleys." Tom sighed as a few members of their audience gasped. "Harry, listen to me." The Dark Lord moved forward so his ruby eyes were only a few inches from the bright green ones. "No one in this room is anything like the Dursleys and we'll all worry about you, whether you like it or not. Things will go much smoother if you'd just stop fighting all of us for a while and let us help."

"I don't need–"

"Yes, you do," Tom stepped in firmly.

Harry frowned. "I don't want your–"

"Don't even consider finishing that sentence," a voice called from the doorway. Everyone in the room turned to where Severus and Minerva stood, Fawkes resting on the Deputy Headmistress' shoulder. Minerva had been the one to speak, and she continued as soon as she was certain Harry was looking at her, "Whether you want our help or not is not of any significance here, Harry. We're going to be taking care of you whether you like it or not. And, seeing as how Riddle is so determined to help you, I doubt you've ever had a choice."

Harry's eyes widened and he shot forward, hugging a startled Tom tightly. "Don't hurt him, Minnie!"

Tom wrapped his arms around the teen carefully and sighed. "Harry, calm down."

"No!" Harry turned pleading eyes on the startled Deputy Headmistress. "You can't turn him in! I won't let you!" he insisted, straining to get up and get between his lover and co-worker.

"Harry! Stop!" Tom cried, hugging Harry tightly. "It's fine. Just please calm down."

"I'm not going to hex anyone," Minerva whispered in shock when Severus nudged her from behind. "Not yet, anyway."

Severus groaned. "Harry, calm down or you'll be force-fed another Dreamless Sleep," the Potions professor ordered as Harry continued to struggle against the Dark Lord, who was trying not to hurt him.

Harry relaxed immediately. "Leave me alone."

Tom let out a sigh and rested on the floor, Harry held in his lap. "You're better now, right? You won't try and get up and fight anyone, right?"

Harry scowled. "Shut up."

"Just checking." Tom glanced up. "Severus, Minerva, lovely to see you both," he offered tiredly. "Feel free to sit down."

Minerva and Severus both settled in open seats, Minerva giving the Dark Lord an unreadable look. "I should drag you in, though."

"Please, Minerva, do us all a favour and don't get Harry all riled up again," Severus grumbled, shooting his co-worker a dry look.

Minerva frowned. "I'm a bit curious as to why there are five Order members, other than myself, also sitting here and not worried about the fact that You-Know-Who's in the same room."

"Perhaps because we're not as tied to the Order as some might like to think," Herm hissed, narrowing her eyes.

"Hermione..." Remus shot the Muggle-born a silencing look.

"I'd deduced that fact myself, actually," Minerva said dryly.

"Well, aren't you brilliant," Tom muttered as he moved both himself and Harry back into the chair Harry had vacated. Harry was clutching his lover possessively and scowling at everyone.

'Harry, no one here is going to take Tom from you.' Gin offered, frowning at her brother. 'Would you please relax?'

"Yeah. We won't let anything happen to old Voldie," Ula agreed, surreptitiously wiping at her eyes with a napkin.

Tom scowled. "What have I told you about calling me that?"

Ula grinned. "Not to."

"It's nice to see my work in action." Harry smiled faintly, relaxing his death grip on the Dark Lord.

"Imp," Tom declared fondly.

Harry let his head rest on the man's shoulder and let out a yawn. "Tired..."

"Would you like to go to bed, then?" Tom enquired, cocking his head to one side to glance down at the teen.

Harry shrugged. "I guess."

"I'll take him up," Sirius offered, standing.

Tom gave the animagus a wary look. "Poppy, why don't you go up with Black?"

Poppy chuckled. "Of course, Tom."

Sirius rolled his eyes at the Dark Lord, but accepted Harry without protest. "Come on, pup. Say good night to all your friends."

Harry blinked at his friends from his godfather's embrace. " 'Night, everyone."

"Good night, Harry," came the general reply.

Harry turned to Minerva and frowned. "Minerva?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"He's not the man you knew in school. Please don't judge him as if he were."

Minerva looked startled. "Of course not."

Harry nodded. "That's all I can ask. Good night."

Sirius nodded to the room in general and walked out of the room, Poppy tailing him.

"...I don't think I want to know what he meant by that..." Tom murmured in the silence, fiddling with the spoon that Harry had thrown at him.

"How's your head?" Herm asked with a touch of concern.

Tom blinked up at the witch, surprised. "Fine. I have a very hard head," he added, smiling ruefully.

"A trait both you and Potter share," Severus offered dryly, earning him a laugh from the Dark Lord and grins from everyone else.

Minerva watched with surprise as the people around her got along so easily with a man who they'd all disliked or feared at one time or another. Harry was right when he'd said that Tom Riddle was not the man she'd known in school. The man she'd known in school would not have sat at a table with potential enemies and laugh when he was insulted. The man she'd known would never have taken having things thrown at him calmly, nor risked himself to calm another down.

A knock on the doorframe made everyone freeze. Tom frowned at the man in the doorway. "Yes?"

"My Lord." The man bowed, eyes turning to stare at Minerva.

The Dark Lord rose. "You'll have to excuse me," he offered to his guests before sweeping from the room with his servant.

"Does that happen often?" Minerva asked in the following silence.

'No.' Gin shook her head, frowning.

"Go," Herm suggested.

Gin nodded and hurried after the Dark Lord, face slipping into a chilled mask.

"...well..." Minerva breathed, staring after her student.

Remus let out a dry chuckle. "Perhaps we should explain?"

"No. No." Minerva held up her hands. "I think it's best that I don't know. I can't accidentally let anything that I don't know slip, now can I?"

"No, I suppose not," Herm agreed.

"Just...how many students are Death Eaters In-Training?"

Luna smiled dimly. "Gin and myself."

Minerva let out an uncharacteristic groan and buried her face in her hands. "Lovely."

-~/\~-

Gin slipped quietly into the room that she had watched the Dark Lord's robes sweep into and froze. 'Ron?'

"Regrettably," Ronald Weasley spat at his sister, straining against the men holding him.

Voldemort stepped between the Junior's second and her brother. "Perhaps you should return to the dining hall, Ginevra."

Gin shook her head sharply. 'I'm standing in for Harry.' she stated. 'One of us should be here.'

"I agree," Harry said, stepping into the room. Sirius and Poppy hovered just outside the room, looking as though they both thought that the teen needed to get back into bed. Both Voldemort and Gin turned to complain to Harry about his being downstairs, but he shot them both a chilled look and swept forward. "Good evening, Ron."

"You fucker!" Ron screamed, straining against those holding him even more. "I'll fucking kill you! Dirty whore!"

Harry flinched faintly, then narrowed his eyes. "Watch your language, Ronald. You're not in the position to be throwing about such idle threats."

"They won't be idle as soon as I get my hands on you, freak! I'll rip you–" A Dark Curse, cast by a furious Voldemort, ended the tirade rather abruptly.

"Oh, no, let him continue, Voldemort," Harry offered, eyes glittering madly. "I was rather enjoying listening to his stupidity."

"Take him down to the dungeons," the Dark Lord hissed before stepping forward and drawing Harry against his chest. Once all the Death Eaters had left, Harry slumped against the snake-like form, eyes closed painfully. Voldemort nodded to Gin. "Go back to Hogwarts with the others. I'll send word if we decide to do anything with Weasel."

Gin nodded shakily. 'And let us know if he gets any worse.' she added pleadingly.

"Certainly." The Dark Lord nodded grimly before picking Harry up and sweeping from the room and back up to their bedroom, Sirius and Poppy shadowing him quietly.

-~/\~-

"Will Professor Harry ever be back?" a sixth year Hufflepuff Prefect by the name of Daniel Ebling asked Herm during class on the Friday following the attack in Hogsmeade. All the students had been told that Harry was safe, but had fallen ill during his brief captivity and would return when he recovered.

Herm sat down on top of Harry's desk with a sigh and looked over the sea of sixth years. All of them, even the few Slytherins, adored Harry, and all of them asked, with their eyes, whether he was going to be okay. Torn, Herm decided to give an honest response to the students, "I was there yesterday, and he's still very, very sick," she said quietly. "We're not sure how much longer until he'll be better, really. He keeps relapsing."

"Damn Death Eaters," Lori Graham, a Slytherin Prefect, muttered.

Herm offered her a smile. "To be fair, Harry hasn't been doing well for a while."

"He said he doesn't like captivity," Andrew Kirke, one of the Gryffindor beaters, offered.

"No, he doesn't," Herm had to agree.

"And the Headmaster doesn't let him do a lot," Jolie Marion, one of the Gryffindor Prefects, huffed. "I never see him outside, except for that one trip to Hogsmeade."

"So, he was already getting sick because of not being allowed outside?" Katia Clubb, the other Hufflepuff Prefect, asked.

"No, silly." Barbara Silva, a Ravenclaw, rolled her eyes. "He wasn't sleeping. He kept coming to class looking exhausted."

"And I saw him not eating, a few times," a Slytherin by the name of Katherine Dodd offered.

"You're all amazingly perceptive," Herm decided, shaking her head. "If you saw him not taking proper care of himself, why didn't you tell one of the rest of us?"

"We thought you knew," Robin Miller, a Ravenclaw Prefect, said in a matter-of-fact voice.

"And we all figured he was old enough to take care of himself," Marshall Hall, a Slytherin Prefect, replied. "Obviously, we were wrong."

Herm let out a heavy sigh. "We all thought he was old enough to take proper care of himself, truth-be-told."

"Uhm, Professor?" a quiet Ravenclaw named Fredia String asked.

"Yes, Miss String?"

"Uhm, when my teacher at my old school fell ill, we made her a get-well card. Could we make one for Professor Harry?"

This suggestion was followed by exclamations of, "Yeah!" and "Great idea, Fredia!"

Herm smiled tearfully at the students. "I think he'd really appreciate that, actually."

"Let's do it now!" Daniel called, practically bouncing in his seat.

"All right." Herm nodded happily. "Let me just get some nice paper, and we'll get right on it."

-~/\~-

"Hm."

Padfoot looked up tiredly from where his head had been resting on his paws as the Dark Lord entered the room with a pile of parchment and offered him a quiet bark of curiosity.

"Harry's brats have sent him cards."

"His brats?" Remus poked his head in from his room. "You mean the Juniors?"

"No, I mean his students." Tom sat down in one of the chairs by the edge of Harry's bed, the letters in his lap, and set his tea on the night stand. "Every last one of his classes. Even the all-Slytherin classes are in here, and they don't look forced at all. I dare-say that they want you back, love."

Harry frowned and opened his eyes. "How'd you know I was awake?"

"I checked," Tom replied, picking a letter off the top of the pile and handing it over to the teen before taking a sip of his tea. "Go on. They're all quite sweet."

Harry opened the card and grinned as a large smiley face popped out at him. It was from his third year Hufflepuffs. They were all quite adamant in the fact that Herm was a wonderful teacher, but they'd rather have him back, since he didn't give quite as much homework and was more fun.

The next card was from the seventh years, and even the students Harry didn't have had signed the card, surprising him. Their words were a bit more personal than the third years', since they knew him better, but they followed along the same basic thread. They wanted him back, desperately, and not just because he was a cooler teacher, but also because they could depend on him to be there when they needed a shoulder to lean on. Even Gin and Luna had written little notes, and Gin's signature was ended with a stamp that resembled the Potter-family crest.

Harry lowered the seventh years' card and looked at the daunting pile sadly. Tom seemed to have sensed his thoughts, for he said, "They all want you back, Harry. Every single student has written something, and even the staff took on the idea with relish. Herm says one of the sixth years had the idea to begin with and it just kept spreading. Even Filch wrote a little something that was actually rather pleasant." Tom smiled. "They really, really want you back."

Harry fingered the parchment in his hands thoughtfully. "If Poppy okays it, can I at least drop in for a visit?"

Tom frowned. "Before you even think about asking Poppy, you have to have your temper under control, which means getting past me. Once I'm certain you won't flip out like you did a couple of days ago, then, yes, you may ask Poppy to go."

Harry let out a resigned sigh. "Okay."

-~/\~-

Harry was wandering around on the lower level with the cane that Lucius had lent him when one of the Death Eaters found him. "My Lord."

Harry straightened slightly. "What is it, Cauld?"

"The Dark Lord is out, as I'm sure my Lord knows, and a visitor has come for him. If my Lord feels well enough, he could probably meet with the visitor," Septimus Cauld murmured, keeping his eyes down.

"Who's the guest?"

"Bob Jhonen, my Lord. He has a job at the Hog's Head and often supplies the Dark Lord with information."

Harry considered his options. Both Sirius and Remus were attending a meeting of the Order, and Poppy was sleeping. Tom was in a meeting with one of the nearby vampire clans, trying to gain their support. Lucius was busy at the Ministry and Gin was, of course, at Hogwarts. He was the only leader of the Dark Order who was an any position to meet with this man, and there was no one to stop him. He knew he wasn't supposed to be doing any work while Poppy still classified him as 'sick', but he was getting tired of being babied, and here was a chance to prove he was fine...

"Show me to him."

"As my Lord wishes," Septimus breathed, obviously relieved.

Harry followed the Death Eater to the receiving room, where he stopped outside the door. "Mr Jhonen is inside, my Lord," he offered before turning and walking away.

Amused and a bit curious, Harry stepped into the room. The man seated comfortably made him choke and slam the door behind him. "Aberforth!"

Aberforth Dumbledore smiled brightly at Harry. "I knew it! You smelled of Darkness!"

Harry hobbled over to a chair and sunk into it, staring at the man. "What the fuck are you playing at?" the teen asked bluntly, once his mind had stopped going around in circles.

Aberforth frowned. "I'm not 'playing at' anything, Master Potter," he replied evenly.

"Are you a member of the Order of the Phoenix, or are you an informant for the Dark Order?" Harry hissed, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"One doesn't have to be a member of my brother's Order and truly fight only for the Light, as you very well know," Aberforth responded. "I'm not the only double agent here, you may have noticed; you hardly have any right to be questioning me when you, yourself, play for both sides."

Harry let out a hiss. "I don't 'play for both sides', Dumbledore. I fight for the Dark Order and that is all. I am a member of the Order out of force, not choice."

"We are not so different, then," Aberforth murmured. "For Albus forced me into his Order as well, in hopes that I would keep from diving in with the side I leaned towards."

Harry mulled over that answer for a moment, then nodded. "Do you ever provide us with Order information?"

"I don't go to any meetings, so no." Aberforth shrugged. "Anyway, you hardly need another source when you've already got two."

Harry smirked. "You underestimate my reach."

Aberforth stared at Harry for a long moment before inclining his head. "Perhaps I underestimate much about you, my young Lord." Harry frowned. "The information I have is very little, but perhaps of great importance."

"Continue." Harry nodded when the man paused.

"The giants of Crete are revolting against the Greek wizards there. It's causing major havoc and confusion. A team of Italian wizards have been called over, but they don't have much hope of subduing the giants."

Harry nodded absent-mindedly, recalling a lesson Tom had given him over the summer. "And that whole area is neutral." He glanced up at Aberforth. "Thank you. That should prove useful."

"Glad to have been able to help." Aberforth rose slowly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really have to be going."

"One last question."

Aberforth turned back to where Harry still sat in his chair, cane drawn up over his legs. "Yes?"

"Where did the name 'Bob Jhonen' come from?"

Aberforth smiled. "My full name is Aberforth Jhonen Bob Dumbledore. I figured using my middle name would put any curious wizards off my track, be they Light or Dark, especially since only a handful of wizards know my full name."

Harry grinned. "Creative. Have a good day, Bob."

"And you, Master Potter," Aberforth offered the teen a deep bow, then left the room.

Harry sighed and called a house-elf for tea, too tired to get back up from the relaxing chair. Aberforth was not a figure he'd expected to see in Slytherin Manor, but he found himself strangely relieved to have misjudged the man at first glance; it was good to know that not all of the Dumbledore line were complete bastards.

-~/\~-

"Has he been in there since I left?"

"I don't know, truly." Poppy rubbed at the bridge of her nose and worked to suppress another yawn. She'd woken almost ten minutes ago to find her charge missing. She'd just found Tom standing in the doorway of the receiving room, watching Harry doze in one of the chairs, a cup of tea on the table next to him, his cane laying a few feet away on the floor.

Tom sighed and stepped up to the young man. "I really don't want to wake him..."

"So don't."

"But I've got a feeling I need to," Tom finished, smiling ruefully before gently shaking Harry's shoulder. "Harry, love, you need to wake up."

"Tom?" Bleary green eyes blinked up at the smiling Dark Lord. "What time is it?" Harry rose his head and glanced around tiredly.

"Almost five. How long have you been in here?"

"Uhg." Harry called his cane to him, then stood carefully. "Only a few hours," he muttered, then shot an intense look at his lover. "I met Bob Jhonen, by the way."

Tom froze. "Did you, now?"

"He came by while you were gone."

"Harry!" Poppy placed her hands on her hips and gave her patient an annoyed look. "No work, remember?"

Harry waved her off impatiently. "The giants on Crete are revolting and there's not much hope for reinforcements. Do we have enough free people to send a couple dozen down there and subdue the brutes?"

Tom rubbed at his chin thoughtfully. "I'm sure we can pull together enough men on short notice to deal with it, yes." He nodded. "I'll set Lucius on it as soon as he gets back, which should be any moment now." Tom smiled at Harry. "Shall we wait for him here?"

"Sure."

"Tom!" Poppy turned to the Dark Lord.

"Hey, don't look at me." Tom grinned. "It was your job to keep him in bed. Now that he's up, I'd like to see you drag him back to bed and keep him there."

"You're no help!" Poppy shot back before spinning on her heels and storming off.

Tom smiled at Harry. "So, you met Bob. What did you think of him?"

"Interesting character," Harry supplied neutrally.

Tom made a face. "Why do I have the feeling that you learned something about Bob in the ten minutes that you spoke to him that I haven't learned in all my years of knowing him?"

Harry shrugged. "We've met before, that's all."

"Really?" Tom leaned forward. "Where?"

"You know, I don't think I'll tell you," Harry decided airily. "I like Bob too much to tell you all his secrets."

"Humph. Imp," Tom replied, eyes dancing with amusement. It was nice to talk to Harry about simple stuff without fearing that he might blow his top. Everyone had been stepping around Harry very cautiously since the visit from all his friends, but Harry had turned much more amiable since the pile of get-well cards had come for him. He was, apparently, desperate to return to Hogwarts, which Tom could understand, having read over most of the letters himself; Harry's students truly adored the teen, and it made Tom feel better knowing that Harry faced a warm reception, rather than a hostile one, upon his return.

The floo flared to life and Lucius stepped out, immediately bowing when he noticed the two leaders. "My Lords. This is a surprise."

"We have a job for you," Tom offered, leaning forward slightly. "If you'll take it, that is."

Lucius gave Harry an exasperated look. "Why is he in a good mood?"

Harry grinned. "I haven't thrown anything at him yet?"

"That's as good a reason as any," Lucius agreed, turning back to the laughing Dark Lord with a smile. "What might this job be, my Lord?"

"Would you care to take a vacation to Crete?" Tom enquired, cutting his laughter short, his eyes dancing with mirth.

Lucius blinked a few times. "The warm weather would certainly be an improvement, I suppose," he decided, earning him a round of laughter from both Tom and Harry. "Though I have a feeling the company won't be all that enjoyable."

Tom pulled himself back under control and gave Lucius an amused smile. "All joking aside, Bob dropped by with word that they've got some out-of-control giant down in Crete and could probably use a hand. If you can pull a good team together in half-an-hour, I'll have a portkey set for you to go."

Lucius nodded seriously. "Bob truly is a god-send sometimes."

"Well, he's certainly something," Harry snorted, rolling his eyes.

Lucius gave Tom a questioning look and the Dark Lord shrugged. "Apparently, Bob and Harry have made one another's acquaintance in the past and Harry's got some dirt on the old man that he won't share," he finished with a touch of annoyance.

Lucius smirked. "It could be worse, my Lord; he could be throwing things again."

"Yeah. I don't know what you're complaining about, Tom," Harry offered airily as he pulled himself to his feet.

"Humph." Tom also stood and the three leaders stepped out of the room together.

"So, how are you faring, Harry?" Lucius enquired after a moment.

Harry shrugged. "I've been better, but at least I'm not confined to the bedroom anymore. Vast improvement."

"I'll bet. Is that cane helping any?"

"Yes, thank you. I like not having to lean on people to get around."

"I figured you would." Lucius nodded. "Any decision on when you're going back to Hogwarts?"

"Never," Harry replied with a dramatic sigh. Lucius grinned and Tom rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure it'll be sooner than you think," Lucius offered. "Well, here's my office. I'll come find you, my Lords, when I've a team."

"Perfect." Tom nodded. "The sooner the better."

"Understood."

Tom and Harry turned and continued down the hall towards Tom's office. "So, will I be visiting Hogwarts anytime soon?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"What if I give you a blow-job?"

Tom snorted and offered Harry a sly smile. "That still won't give you an immediate yes, you imp."

"Aw. Come on. Please?"

"The pleading look clashes with that cane you're leaning on."

Harry smiled down at the cane, which had a rearing silver dragon on the top, its tail twisting around the wood beneath it. Lucius had let him pick between this one and one of a lion's head. He'd picked the dragon so Tom didn't have convulsions. "I've been really good lately."

"I know." Tom smiled and mussed Harry's hair gently.

"I haven't lost my temper in five days."

"No, you haven't," Tom agreed, leading the way into his office.

"So?"

Tom settled himself in his chair and smirked at Harry. "Go pester Poppy."

Harry blinked a few times, then let out a cheer and hurried from the room. Tom laughed.

-

-

A/N: Piff. That was a cute little ending, don't you think?
*headdesk* Sorry about all the drama. I had to conclude that whole mess that got started with Harry's temper tantrum last chapter somehow or another.
Minerva isn't totally into the fold yet, but I've been planning to make her a supporter since Abandon.
Aberforth? Do ya all still like him? *grins* He's a fun character. *laughs*

~Bats ^.^x

Abandon & Reclaim Series:
Abandon the Prequel: Sixth Year
Abandon Chapters:
01 || 02 || 03 || 04 || 05 || 06 || 07 || 08 || 09 || 10
11 || 12 || 13 || 14 || 15 || 16 || 17 || 18 || 19 || 20
21 || 22 || 23 || 24 || 25 || 26 || 27 || 28 || 29 || 30
31 || 32 || 33 || 34 || 35 || 36 || 37 || 38 || 39 || 40
41 || 42 || 43 || 44 || 45 || 46 || 47
Reclaim Chapters:
One || Two || Three || Four || ~~Five~~ || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten
Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen
Epilogue
Side Stories:
Ginevra Weasley & Theodore Nott
Minerva McGonagall || Minerva McGonagall (again)

Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: My roommate sleeping

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

vampsarecool.livejournal.com

great update dear. *huggs*

From:

batsutousai

Meeee... *hugs back*

From:

sakitokun.livejournal.com

God dammit! You made my eyes teary again. Although this made up for it:

"What if I give you a blow-job?"
Heh I cracked up so much!

Hehe, Abe again! Crazy Abe!

Love the angst! You should have seen all the snarry fics I got from doing a fic search! All angsty fics!

From:

batsutousai

*cracks up* Harry was soooooo desperate to please. XD

Snarry=angst. Didn't you know that? *amused look*

They condemn what they do not understand

FIC: Reclaim ~ Chapter 5 ~ R ~ Tom/Harry