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batsutousaiTitle: Abandoned: The Re-Write
Author: Batsutousai
Rating: M/R
Main Pairing: Harry/Tom, Harry/Voldemort
Side Pairings: Ginny/Theodore Nott, Seamus/Blaise Zabini, past-Ron/Hermione, Hermione/Luna, others
Warnings: SLASH, mentions of child abuse/rape/torture, language, character death, minor Dumbledore bashing, Grey-to-Dark!Harry
Summary: A complete re-write of Abandon: Before the start of his seventh year, Harry Potter is abandoned in London by his muggle family and finds himself befriending Lord Voldemort.
A/N: This was supposed to be up yesterday, but, whoops, I forgot. ^^; Happy, uh, Revenge of the Fifth, I guess? XD
This chapter covers the events of chapters fifteen and sixteen in the original.
Chapter Eight: Start of the Year
-0-
Harry hummed to himself as he finished packing the last of his overnight things. His hall mates had thrown him a going-away party the night before and had given him some small gifts to remember them by, including an electronic game he knew wouldn't work in Hogwarts, but he'd thanked Zack for none the less. He was sad to be leaving them, but happy enough to be getting back to Hogwarts that it wasn't too bad. Anyway, the person he'd miss the most from his summer would be his new professor.
And wouldn't that be strange? Harry had resigned himself to starting the war back up again as soon as the train reached Hogsmeade, but Tom had gone and applied for the Defence position. An entire year spent in the Dark Lord's company without them wanting to kill each other? It sounded bloody insane. Harry was actually looking forward to it a bit, especially since it gave him time to try and find a way out of the fate the prophecy had thrust onto his shoulders: Kill Tom, or die by his hand.
A knock came on his door, pulling Harry from his dark thoughts. "It's open!" he called after a cursory look around to make sure there was nothing left out.
The door opened and a head of greying hair poked in. "Hey, cub," Remus said.
Harry grinned at the werewolf. "Hey, Remus. Time to head out, then?"
"Pretty much."
"So, who all insisted on coming?" Harry asked as Remus came over and hefted the teen's trunk. He'd told the Order at least three times that he didn't need a guard on his way to the train this year, but he wasn't given a choice. All he'd been able to do was insist that his godfather was a part of his guard, if only so he had someone to talk to.
"Tonks and Kingsley, as well as a couple of aurors they know–"
"I thought they were the only active aurors in the Order," Harry interrupted. "Or did you recruit some this summer?"
Remus shrugged a shoulder. "There was some recruitment, yes, but Tonks and Kingsley are the only Order aurors downstairs." He grimaced a bit. "They had to call off work, which raised a few questions, and when the minister found out they would be guarding you..." He trailed off.
Harry sighed and rubbed his forehead. Ever since he'd been voted into office, Minister Scrimgeour had been trying to get in Harry's good graces. The training with Moody had been rushed through without question on his orders, as had any number of other things which Harry hadn't asked for, but appreciated, such as the clearing of Sirius' name when Peter Pettigrew was spotted part way through the last school year by a non-Order auror.
Remus smiled a bit, recognising the helpless expression Harry wore. "We managed to talk them into only sending two more, if that helps?"
Harry nodded. "So, four aurors, you... Anyone else?"
"One Miss Hermione Granger," Remus replied.
Harry's eyes lit up. " 'Mione's here? But why? Is she okay?"
Remus rolled his eyes as Harry didn't even let him respond, just rushed down the stairs.
Hermione was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, already having expected her best friend's reaction to the knowledge that she'd come with the group of aurors. "Hey, Harry," she called as he rounded the stairs between the first and ground floors.
Harry took in her relaxed posture in a blink and smiled, slowing down a bit on the last few steps. "Hey, 'Mione. Okay, then?"
"Just fine," she assured him and accepted his hug when he reached her. "I was still with Mum and Dad, so Remus said he'd pop by and pick me up on the way. Easier than asking the Weasleys to do it."
Harry grimaced; the Weasleys had the habit of not being ready until the last minute, so they'd probably have been late if they'd had to get Hermione on the way, especially with Ginny still being unable to use magic outside the school. "Alright, then," he agreed and glanced over her shoulder to where the aurors were all standing. "Wotcher, Tonks. Kingsley."
Tonks grinned at him while Kingsley inclined his head with his usual stoicism. The other two aurors looked slightly out of place, especially with their battle robes on. Harry wondered if they hadn't been warned ahead of time that Harry was staying in the muggle world.
Remus huffed a bit as he finally reached the bottom of the stairs with the trunk. "Thanks for helping with your trunk," he teased his godson.
Harry's eyes narrowed at the two aurors he didn't know when he caught the dark looks they were shooting the werewolf. Like most of the wizarding world, these two saw Remus' monthly problem, not the man he was the rest of the time, and while Harry was getting used to the prejudice, he still hated it. "Sorry, Moony," he said to his godfather, but his playful tone fell flat, as he was still glaring at the two aurors.
Remus sighed and reached out to ruffle Harry's hair. "Leave it," he whispered when the two aurors tensed at a 'Dark creature' touching their precious Boy-Who-Lived.
Harry grunted and turned away from the aurors to look at where his muggle friends were watching with varying degrees of amusement and curiosity. "Right, then. I'm off."
Becca stepped forward, wearing the same smile she'd had the day Harry had first walked in, confused and resigned to his fate. "Pop back by again, yeah?"
"We'll have you cook us all supper again," Ashley called, grinning. "We actually eat right that way."
Harry grinned back. "Sure thing. Couldn't leave you to survive on pub food, now could I?"
"The horror," Bill said drily and they all laughed.
Rosie, the old housekeeper, stepped forward and pulled Harry into a hug, surprising him and all the others there. "Take care of yourself, boy," she told him, pulling away.
"Yeah, don't let those loons of yours do anything to you," Zack agreed, ruffling Harry's hair in much the way Remus had moments before.
"Don't worry about me," Harry told them, smiling. "I'll be just fine."
"And if he isn't, we'll take care of him," Remus added to smooth over the dubious looks the muggles were sporting.
One of the aurors cleared his throat. "Mr Potter, we should be heading out very shortly if you want to make the train."
Harry rolled his eyes and mouthed, 'So stuffy,' to his friends, which got an especially big grin from Zack. "Yeah, alright. I'll see you all around, then. Take care of yourselves, yeah?"
"We'll manage," Becca agreed, then pulled him into a hug. "Thanks for staying here, Harry."
"Thanks for letting me," Harry returned and allowed everyone to hug him, then waved and followed the aurors out of the hostel.
"There is something nice about letting the minister get involved," Remus commented as they stopped outside the Ministry-issued black car waiting for them at the kerb.
"Could have just as easily apparated," Harry muttered back as they all climbed in. "Instead, they have to make a big deal of everything."
"You're important to them," Hermione offered from Harry's other side.
Harry huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.
Remus and Hermione shared knowing smiles over his head, which just made him huff a bit more.
The ride to the station was filled with a lot of talk about the coming year. Hermione had started stressing over the NEWTs last year, but she was really freaking out now that the new year was starting. Remus found his brain being picked for what he'd remembered from the tests. When Tonks laughed a bit at the werewolf, Hermione just turned to her and started picking her brain.
Harry had just chuckled and leant around her to talk with Kingsley about a couple of auror-level spells Mad-Eye had taught him.
The two non-Order aurors just sort of stared at the five of them, disbelieving. It had been strange enough to think that a few of their co-workers were on a first name basis (or as close to as Tonks would ever be) with Harry Potter, but actually seeing them together was just so much stranger.
When they reached King's Cross, Harry and Hermione suffered the escort up until they'd stepped through the barrier. There, Harry turned to the four aurors and said, "Thanks so much for your extra wands, but I think we'll be okay from here on out."
"If anything happens, Mr Potter, this will be the place," one of the aurors insisted, eyeing Remus suspiciously.
"If anything happens here, you'll hardly make a difference," Harry snarked back.
Before the auror could get defensive, Kingsley intervened, "Jackson, let it go. Harry has a point; it's too crowded here for us to be much good. We'd just be in the way." He turned to Harry, Hermione, and Remus. "Harry, Hermione, have a good year."
"Thanks, Kingsley," Harry said for them both, then led the way through the crowds to the train.
Remus helped them get their trunks onto the train, then stood around with them and let Hermione pick his brain some more in between half-joking bets with Harry about whether the Weasleys would miss the train.
Shortly before the Weasleys arrived, Seamus met up with them, shooting Remus a nervous look – he only really knew the man as a former professor – then asked his year mates, "Is it alright if we pop by your compartment once we're underway?"
"I'd love it," Harry agreed. "Especially while Ron, 'Mione, and Gin are all off at their prefect meeting, you know?"
Seamus grinned. "Yeah, cool. Oh, uhm..." He shifted a bit nervously and glanced back towards the barrier. "Do you think Ron's going to be difficult? I know he really doesn't like Slytherins, and he was good at the party, but..."
"If he's difficult, I'll deal with him," Harry promised with a bit of a mean smile, and Seamus laughed while Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Thanks, mate," Seamus said. "You lot are in the back again?"
"Always," Harry agreed.
Seamus nodded, then dashed off into the crowds again.
The Weasleys got there with just enough time to get the students settled on the train and for hugs to go around, and then the train was off towards Hogwarts. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny all made for the front of the train and their meeting, while Harry, Neville, and Luna all settled in for a chat. Seamus, Blaise, and Dean joined them after a bit and they all talked about their summers.
When the others got back, Ron paused in the doorway upon seeing Blaise, and the Slytherin tensed. Then Harry cleared his throat and said, "Ron, you remember Blaise, right?"
Ron blinked and glanced over at his best friend. He took in the warning frown Harry sported, the glum expression Seamus wore, and the resigned grimace from Blaise, then nodded and managed a crooked smile. "Yeah, course I remember him. Good to see you again, Za–Blaise."
And he may have stumbled over what to call the Slytherin and he might have to be reminded to be polite to him, but Ron intended to try, and that made everyone else in the compartment smile.
This year will be different, Harry promised himself. And, as Ron sat down and asked about Blaise's summer, Harry thought it just might be a good different.
"I wonder who we'll have for Defence this year," Ginny commented as they were all sharing around their booty from the snack cart.
"Marcus Brutús," Harry announced, giving his chocolate frog box an irritated look when it wouldn't open.
Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at him in surprise.
Harry finally got the box open and grabbed the frog as it made a bid for freedom, then glanced around at the startled looks. "What?"
"Who's Marcus Brutús and how do you know he'll be our professor?" Hermione asked for everyone.
Harry blinked. "Huh? Oh, right... Uhm, Marcus and I met over the summer, yeah? We had lunch together a few times and when he heard that the Defence position was still empty, he applied for it. He told me after he got it."
"You've never mentioned him," Ginny said, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Haven't I?" Harry wondered, trying for an innocent air.
"No, you haven't," Hermione agreed.
Harry glanced between the two girls nervously and shrank down in his chair a bit. "Oh. Erm... sorry?" he tried.
Suddenly, Ginny's eyes gleamed. "Oh. Wait. Maybe you did mention him to me..."
"I did?" Harry wondered, thinking back over their correspondence from the summer. He was pretty sure he'd never mentioned Tom to Ginny.
"The night after your birthday," Ginny agreed.
Harry's eyes widened in horror. "Wha–what?!" he squeaked. Oh, he remembered that conversation, but he'd rather hoped that Ginny had forgotten.
"Oh? What happened?" Seamus asked the redhead, everyone turning to look at her.
Ginny smiled at Harry's horrified expression. "Harry was telling me all about this bloke who he had a crush on, but he never gave any names."
"Ginny!" Harry wailed, burying his face in his hands.
Ginny just smiled, triumphant.
"Harry's got a crush on the new teacher?" Seamus asked, looking back at the Boy Who Lived with wide eyes.
"Never mind that," Ron insisted. "I thought you were straight, mate."
"He can like both," Blaise defended.
Harry just moaned and scrunched himself into as small a ball as he could. He even used his metamorphing ability a bit to make himself smaller. He wondered, vaguely, if it was possible to become small enough that he just sort of vanished to the naked eye.
A hand touched Harry's shoulder and he startled violently, half falling off the bench. All conversation stopped and his friends watched him with concern, all traces of teasing gone. Harry swallowed, self-conscious, and looked over at where Hermione's hand rested just above where his shoulder had been. "Yeah?" he croaked and hated the weakness. He hated that he always flinched when touched, and he'd never been so grateful as when Ron and Hermione had stopped asking him about it after their first year. But sometimes, if he reacted violently enough, they looked at him like they wanted to ask again.
Hermione cleared her throat. "Oh, uhm... Just wondering if you were okay?" she said.
Harry forced a smile. "I'm fine," he promised and smiled all the more honestly at the disbelieving looks the compartment shot him.
"Right," Hermione replied and lowered her hand back into her lap.
"Tell us about this bloke, then," Dean demanded. "Is he any good with Defence?"
"He's bloody brilliant," Harry assured them. "I mean, you saw the books he had us ordering, right?" Everyone nodded, looking pleased. The books Tom had picked had been very good, after all. "Yeah. He's brilliant." He grinned.
"I recall you calling him a bit of a prick," Ginny offered, smiling in amusement.
"I said he acts like a prick and he's a bastard," Harry corrected. "Which is accurate, but that doesn't make him any less brilliant."
"Is he from Britain?" Hermione wondered.
Blaise was the one to answer that, to everyone's surprise: "Not likely. The Brutús clan is Italian. They were pretty big over there for a long time, but over the last century they've sort of died off." He frowned a bit. "I thought Vachil Brutús was the last one left, though?"
"Vachil is Marcus' stepfather," Harry explained easily, having gone over everything with Tom often enough over the past few weeks. "Marcus' mum, Aislinn, married into the family and he was blood-adopted. Originally, he's from Britain."
Blaise looked thoughtful for a moment, then his eyes widened. "Aislinn Dustof?" he demanded. When Harry nodded, the Slytherin shook his head. "Blimey... Our professor is old."
"He's a year younger than Professor McGonagall," Harry complained, then found himself faced with open-mouthed stares. "Oh, piss off!"
"He's, what, like eighty years old?" Seamus commented.
"Seventy-one this December," Harry muttered. As if he wasn't already aware of how much older than him Tom was. It wasn't always obvious, since Tom's usual face looked like he was in his late-twenties, but Harry had seen his Marcus form once and he looked much older like that.
"Harry likes older men," Dean teased. "Like, way older men."
Harry scowled at him. "Piss. Off."
Dean and Seamus both snickered a bit. Ginny, Neville, Hermione, and Blaise looked at them like they were mad, while Ron looked a bit peaky and Luna observed something on the ceiling that only she could see.
Harry considered his long-time best friend. "All right, Ron?" he asked, and part of him feared this latest secret would be the straw that broke Ron.
But Ron just sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. "Fine," he said, and Harry could see himself in that answer. Ron realised what he'd said after a moment and he offered a wry smile. "I'll be okay," he settled on. Harry smiled at him.
Hermione's watch made a sound, then, and she glanced at it in surprise. "Oh! We'll be there soon."
Ginny sighed and reached over to pull Luna up. "We girls will change in the loo, then. Open the door when you're all done."
"Sure thing," Neville agreed.
The boys all changed quickly and it was only a little awkward, but they'd all had enough practise in changing in a dorm with other boys, and the Gryffindors were used to Seamus being gay, so they managed without anyone feeling the need to dash down to the toilet.
Once the boys were all changed, they called the girls back in and moved on to debating the classes they were and weren't looking forward to that year, much to Harry's relief.
When the train pulled into the station, they all filed out and Blaise crept off to fall in with his housemates, who were just ahead of the Gryffindors and single Ravenclaw. The group had to split up to get in the carriages, but they met up at the entrance to the castle and walked in together. Somehow, the Slytherins had ended up behind them and were loudly discussing the idiocy of Gryffindors as they walked into the castle.
Harry was getting used to this tactic, as were the rest of his friends, so they just ignored the snakes behind them. However, once they entered the Great Hall, Seamus looked along the Head Table, then commented, "I suppose he's not too bad, though."
Harry groaned. "Seamus."
"He could lose a little weight," Dean added in much the same tone as how he used to tease Seamus about his various boyfriends.
"Dean," Harry hissed.
"He's really not too bad, for a Malfoy," Ginny said, an unholy light in her eyes.
"Ginny!" Ron choked.
Behind them, all of the Slytherins had fallen silent and Harry got the sense that they were staring at the Gryffindors in horror. He also got the urge to make a spot of trouble, so he turned around, looked surprised and almost embarrassed to see Malfoy and his crowd so close, then said, "Malfoy! Hi! Uhm..." He cast around for a moment and didn't have to fake the flush that crept up his face from embarrassment. "I was surprised you didn't come say hi on the train."
The horrified look on Draco Malfoy's face was totally worth the knowledge that, by tomorrow, half the school would think Harry was crushing on the Slytherin boy.
Ron was looking a little green as he grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him away from the Slytherins. "That, I would not be okay with," he muttered. "Ever."
Harry laughed. "You and me both. But did you see his face?"
Ron's face twisted with a half-grimace, half-smile. "If I had a pensieve, I'd use it to see that expression all the time," he agreed.
"Oh, Harry, did you have to?" Hermione complained as they all sat down.
Harry shrugged. "Serves him right for listening in on other people's conversations," he replied.
Hermione sighed and shook her head.
"Oh, I will treasure the look on the ferret's face for the rest of my life," Seamus declared.
"I'm glad I can provide you with those special moments," Harry said drily and Seamus grinned at him.
Ginny nudged Harry's shoulder. "So, are you actually going to do anything about your crush?" she asked. "I know you said before that you wouldn't–"
"And I still won't," Harry insisted.
"But why not?" Seamus asked.
Harry raised an eyebrow at the Irish boy. "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
"Okay, his age, his status, and the fact that he wouldn't welcome my advances," Harry said. And, really, only the last was holding him back. Maybe Tom's status, but he wasn't sure he cared so much any more about playing the part of the good little Boy-Who-Lived.
"How do you know he wouldn't welcome your advances?" Hermione asked, truly curious.
But Harry just shook his head and insisted, "Leave it."
Before anyone else could try and get an answer out of him, McGonagall came in with the first years and the Hall fell quiet as they were led up to the Hat, who cheerfully sang again about House unity.
As the names started being called, Harry glanced up at the the Head Table and found Marcus, eyes riveted on the Sorting taking place. The man was sitting about mid-way down the table, close enough to Dumbledore that it wasn't obvious that Marcus wanted nothing to do with the Headmaster, but far enough that he wasn't likely to be drawn into casual conversation by the man, either.
Marcus suddenly looked up, sensing the eyes on him, and raised an eyebrow at Harry. The teen glanced quickly at the Sorting, clapped for a Gryffindor, then looked back at Marcus, who was still watching him.
Through their bond, curiosity echoed and Marcus looked pointedly at the Slytherin table.
Harry sighed and sent back the emotions of amusement and the satisfaction of a prank well-played.
Marcus' lips quirked and he sent back a sense of amused disbelief.
Harry rolled his eyes; the Dark Lord was well aware that Harry was willing and capable of playing jokes on Slytherins. Especially Draco Malfoy.
"Sure he wouldn't welcome your advances?" Ginny whispered, having noticed the familiar, silent conversation between the two.
Harry turned and scowled at her. "Gin, leave it."
Ginny gave him a challenging look. "Why should I?" she whispered.
"Ginevra Weasley, so help me..." Harry hissed, eyes flashing with a threat and his heart in his throat.
Ginny looked away, expression angry.
At the Head Table, McGonagall had finished with the Sorting and was clearing the Hat away. Dumbledore rose and called, "Welcome, children, to another year at Hogwarts. Please try to stay awake after the feast for announcements, but, for now, why don't you fill your empty bellies?" And the tables were suddenly groaning under the weight of too much food.
Marcus barely spared a glance for the food as he mechanically filled his plate. He was frowning at where Harry and the youngest Weasley seemed locked in a battle of wills. He sensed unrest and anger from the teen, but he wasn't sure why. He sent a feeling of curiosity across the bond, but all that happened was Harry tightening his mind, and Marcus wondered what the teen thought that would accomplish.
"You seem to be paying an inordinate amount of attention to the Gryffindor table," the woman to Marcus' left commented.
Marcus looked over at Poppy Pomfrey, who he'd been acquaintances with during his early years at Hogwarts. Marcus Dustof had never spoken to her, but Tom Riddle had, and he remembered her to have been a good friend and quick with her wand. She and another member of the staff, Aurora Sinistra, seemed to have taken an odd sort of liking to him over the two days they'd been eating together. Even now, Sinistra was on his right, adding vegetables to his half-filled plate. Marcus wondered if she thought he hadn't noticed.
"Marcus?" Poppy asked, concern creeping into her voice when he didn't answer right away.
"I was observing the young Mr Potter," Marcus admitted, debating whether or not he should admit that he already knew Harry.
"Ah," Poppy said, nodding in understanding and looking over at the teen in question, who was still locked in a battle of wills with the girl next to him. His friends seemed to be trying to talk them out of it, but weren't having much luck. Poppy pursed her lips. "He needs to eat," she commented. "He's always so thin."
Marcus couldn't help but agree with that, although he knew that he, himself, wasn't much better. And Harry had filled out quite a bit after being able to eat whatever he wanted for the entire summer. Of course, the teen had also come into his metamorph ability, so some of that might have been him changing his own body to his liking.
When Harry was still staring at the Weasley girl after another few minutes, Marcus sent something like a shout through their bond.
At the Gryffindor table, Harry hissed and clapped his hands to his scar. Almost immediately, all of his friends were leaning forward to check on him. "I'm fine," he complained to them, taking his hands from his forehead when Hermione tugged on them.
Hermione considered the scar for a moment, and then sighed. "Well, it looks okay, I guess. It's not inflamed or anything."
"I told you I'm fine," Harry grumbled.
Across the table, Ron snorted. "Bollocks." Harry shot him a dark look, but the redhead was already turning to his sister. "Ginny, leave the Brutús thing alone already, okay? It's Harry's decision. Stop trying to force things on him."
The Gryffindors around them gave Ron amazed looks and the boy shrank down in his seat a bit.
But Ron's words seemed to finally get through to Ginny, for she grimaced and glanced over at Harry, contrite. "Sorry," she whispered. "I just don't like seeing you–"
"Sacrifice my happiness," Harry cut in, rolling his eyes. "I know, Gin. But, seriously, I'd rather have this... This friendship or whatever than chance him not wanting to talk to me again, okay? Can we agree to just leave this topic alone? Please?"
"Yeah, okay," Ginny agreed.
"Thanks."
"Why would your scar hurt?" Hermione wondered.
Harry sighed and closed his eyes. "It stung, okay? Sort of like last year? I just wasn't expecting it. Hasn't happened all summer. Leave it, 'Mione. Seriously."
Hermione looked a bit grumpy, but nodded in silent agreement, then reached over and started filling Harry's plate, much to his amusement.
Once his friends were all involved in their food, Harry glanced up at Marcus and glared at him, sending irritation through the link.
Marcus glanced up, a smug little smile on his lips. Then he pointedly took a bite of the food in front of him.
Harry rolled his eyes, but returned his attention to his food.
After all the plates had been cleared, Dumbledore gave his usual warnings and introduced Marcus, then wished them all off to bed.
As Harry's friends rose, Ginny touched Harry's arm. "Will you introduce us to him? Or should we wait until classes?"
Harry blinked, then glanced over at Marcus. The Dark Lord was only just rising, listening to something Madam Pomfrey was saying, but he met Harry's eyes as soon as the teen looked at him and raised an eyebrow. Harry glanced around at all of his friends, then looked back at Marcus, who sighed, then gave a half-shrug and nodded.
"Yeah, okay," Harry agreed, glancing back at his friends. They all looked amused at the silent conversation and Harry felt his neck flush. "Stuff it," he ordered and they all muffled amused noises.
When they reached Marcus, he was still standing with Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sinistra, and the two women were giving the group of Gryffindors curious looks. "Is there anything wrong, Mr Potter?" Madam Pomfrey asked, concern in her eyes. She hadn't missed Harry's grab for his head, but the boy had seemed okay afterwards, so she hadn't let herself be concerned about it.
Harry blinked and shook his head. "Oh, no, ma'am. I just came over to introduce my friends to Marcus." He paused and looked at the Dark Lord curiously while the two female staff members looked surprised. "Or am I supposed to be calling you Professor Brutús, now?"
"I don't care, Harry," Marcus replied with the faint Italian accent he'd adopted. Harry still wasn't used to hearing that accent come out of the mouth of the man he knew was Voldemort. "Whatever you're comfortable with."
Harry's mouth twitched and his eyes sparkled just a bit. "Anything?" he asked.
"Within reason," Marcus said with the air of someone who'd expected that response. "Don't think I won't give you detention if you're obnoxious."
"I'm the picture of innocence."
Marcus just raised an eyebrow at the teen.
"I'll bet he doesn't believe you when you say you're 'fine,' does he?" Neville asked.
Harry grimaced in response and his friends all laughed. "Shove it," he told them, then glanced back at the three staff members. "Marcus, the idiots are Gin Weasley, Ron Weasley, 'Mione Granger, Nev Longbottom, Shay Finnigan, and Dean Thomas."
"You don't include the other girls of your year in your circle?" Marcus enquired.
"All they care about is make-up," Hermione complained, "and which boy is the cutest. Honestly."
"Parvati's not so bad any more, though," Dean offered. "After her dad got put in hospital last year, she's sort of mellowed a bit."
"Lavender's still ridiculous," Ginny muttered. She didn't have to deal with the girls in question as much as Hermione did, but she saw them often enough to know how they were. "She needs a boyfriend already."
"Rumour has it she's got quite the crush on a redhead in our dorm," Seamus commented, smiling knowingly.
"She's not all that bad," Ron said, frowning when his sister and year mates all looked at him like he'd lost his mind.
Harry sighed and shot the staff an apologetic look, but the two women were looking amused and Marcus was just resigned. At Harry's apologetic look, he commented, "I knew what I was getting in to when I decided to apply for this job, Harry."
Harry grinned. "No, you didn't."
Marcus smiled faintly. "Well, I've met your friends. May I continue to my quarters?"
Harry's eyes lit up at the mention of Marcus' living space; the man had spent all summer invading his room, and, finally, Harry had the chance to return the favour.
"No," Marcus said, deciphering Harry's expression and the echo of the bond.
Harry adopted an innocent pleading look. "But, Marcus..."
"No," Marcus said again, but the corner of his eye twitched just the slightest bit.
Harry used his metamorphing ability to make his eyes wider and managed a hint of tears. "Please?"
Marcus closed his eyes to the expression, but Harry was also echoing his hope across the bond. "Fine!" he snapped and scowled when he caught the victorious expression the teen sported. When he saw the curious looks of Harry's friends, he looked pointedly at Harry, then at them. "No."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I know." Then he turned to his friends. "I'm gonna go have a cuppa with Marcus, okay? I'll see you in the dorm later." When Ginny opened her mouth to ask if they could come with, Harry flatly said, "No, Gin."
Ginny huffed. "But–"
"No, Gin," Harry said again in the same tone.
"Leave it," Hermione ordered, rolling her eyes. Then she leaned forward and hugged Harry, ignoring his tense. She whispered the password in his ear, then pulled away and smiled. "I'll see you in the morning, okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks, 'Mione." Harry smiled at her.
Hermione turned and began herding the other Gryffindors out of the Great Hall, so Harry turned back to the staff. Marcus was just offering his good nights to Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sinistra and, once they were both gone, the Dark Lord led Harry from the Hall and up to the third floor.
They stopped in front of a portrait of a snake that Harry had never seen before. "Slytherin," Marcus said and the portrait swung open. "Come in," he said to Harry and led the way inside.
Harry wasn't surprised that the Dark Lord's room was done in dark greens and silver, but he was pleased to discover that the couch and chairs in front of the fireplace were comfortable. He was also amused by the wall of bookcases, which were of a light enough wood that they helped lighten the room, in spite of the otherwise dark decor. "Nice," he commented over his shoulder.
"I'm glad you approve," the Dark Lord responded. He'd dropped the Italian accent and, Harry saw when he rounded the couch with a tea tray, he'd also dropped his disguise. Tom dropped into the chair on the left of the couch and motioned with his wand for the tea to pour and fix itself.
Harry considered the man next to him and reached over to make his own tea by hand. "Okay so far?" he asked.
Tom shrugged. "About what you'd expect: Severus suspects I'm up to no good, most of the professors think I'm Dark because I'm Slytherin or just avoid me because of the curse. Poppy and Aurora are the only two who will have much to do with me."
"Yeah, what's up with that?"
Tom snorted. "Poppy and I were on good terms in school. I mean, she never spoke to Marcus Dustof, but I'm not Marcus, so..."
"She sees the old you in you and reached out to him?" Harry suggested.
Tom shrugged and relaxed back in his chair. "That's my best guess. She and Aurora are good friends, so when Poppy made it her mission to mother me, Aurora joined her." He sneered. "I am far too old to be mothered by a couple of witches."
Harry snickered. "Sure you are."
Tom glared at him for a long moment, then shook his head. "What was that about with Mr Malfoy?"
"Oh, he was eavesdropping and Gin decided to make like I had a crush on the ferret," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "I decided to play along a bit. Completely worth it."
Tom snorted. "And what were you and Miss Weasley arguing about at the table that kept you from your supper?"
"Gryffindor business. Can't tell you," Harry replied primly. When Tom gave him an irritated look, Harry grinned. "Oh, give up, Tom. I'm allowed some secrets."
Tom sniffed a bit and focussed on his tea.
They were silent for a long moment, then Tom said, "I won't be keeping that password, but my guardian knows that he should let in any parselmouths who ask him to."
"Huh. Well, there're only two of us, I suppose," Harry allowed. "Was there a reason for that?"
Tom shrugged one shoulder, uncomfortable. "In case you needed somewhere to come without your friends hovering about."
Harry smiled. "Thanks," he said honestly.
Happiness bloomed in Tom's chest at the smile Harry gave him and he squashed it and stood abruptly. "You should go to bed," he announced, turning away from the teen. "You wouldn't want to sleep through your first class."
Harry considered the tense back in front of him and the storm of uncertainty and upset echoing across the bond. "Good point," he agreed easily and stood, setting his cup down on the tray. "I'll see you in the morning."
Tom nodded stiffly and stayed where he was as Harry quietly left the room. Tom remained like that for a few minutes after Harry had left, then let himself fall back into his chair and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "What is wrong with me?" he muttered to the empty room.
As expected, he got no answer back.
-0-0-0-0-0-
A/N: Poor Tom. He's having such a time of it.
And poor Harry, too, I suppose. He's got his friends snooping into his life. XD
~Bats ^.^x
Abandon the Prequel: Sixth Year
Abandon chapter 01
Reclaim chapter One
Abandoned Chapters:
One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven ||
Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen || Sixteen || Seventeen || Eighteen || Nineteen || Twenty
INCOMPLETE
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