The Forgiven Crime

4

Harry wanted to run away again. Not from home of course, just from the party. Draco has long ran off with Blaise and Pansy, and Theo hadn't arrived yet. Some people would come up to glare while they introduced themselves and others seemed to actually want to speak with him.

The first nasty encounter was with a man called Yaxley. He came up to Harry with a nasty run then held out his hand.

"I will be so gald to see you die the next time. Shame you're such a pretty thing, maybe Luc will let me play-"

~Grip hisss hand tighter, sssay sssomething in parsssseltongue to him.~ Marvolo hissed frantically, and so Harry put some magic into his grip. Joy bubbled in his gut at the frear in the man's eyes.

~Oh but Lord Yaxxxley I will be the one who is ssso glad to watch you die. I'm sssure my Lord will take care of you firsssst thing.~  Marvolo popped out of his collar at this. 

~You sssshould not call me that.~

-Why not?~ The grip on Yaxley's hand getting tighter.

~Becausse you are not my follower hatchling.~

~Then what am I?~ The snakes head tilted.

~Thatsss the fun my Harry, you have to figure that out on your own.~ The boy sighed and let go of the man's, very red, hand.

"A pleasure to meet you Lord Yaxley, I'm sure you'll find it very hard to communicate with Uncle Lucius on non-work related issues from now on." The man's eyes grew wide and he half ran away, stumbling a bit.

~Marvolo?~

~Yesss, my Harry?~

~Iss it ok to find boysss cute?~

~of coursssse it is my Harry, who do you think isss cute?~

~Well itsss jussst that…~

~Come now my Harry, I will not judge.~

~Hesss jusssst really sssweet and I like ssstudying and well I jussst really think Theo isss cute.~

~That doesss not sssuprisse me, I had a ssssmall crush on hissss father before he…~

~He got married?~ The snake seemed to snicker.

~No, before he got crazzzy, I wasss hesssitant to tell you becaussse he isss your teacher.~

~I will ssstill treat him asss ssssuch unlessss it ssstarts hurting Theo.~

~You're ssssuch a good boy my Harry~ the boy had thought the blushing was finally over. Man was he wrong.

"Oh!" Harry stood a little neater, ~he'sss here.~

~Oh goody.~ Marvolo tone held something new but Harry brushed it to the side for now as the snake slid back into his inner robes.

"Lord Nott, Heir Nott, what a pleasure to have you tonight. My nephew has been awaiting the arrival of his friend, and I have business with you Theodore." There was a chill in Lucius tone.  Little did Harry know his teacher was being replaced for traitorous reasons.

Harry grinned at Theo and the boy smiled back. "Come on Theo, let's go get some snacks and we can…" the longer Harry looked the more blurry Theo became. "Are...are you wearing a glamor Theo?" His voice was hushed, only loud enough for the two to hear.

"Doesn't matter Harry, let's go get snacks and find the others." He took Harry's hand and pulled him toward the kitchens. 

"Theo the snacks are that way," Harry gestured at the ballroom.

"The kitchens always have better snacks, honestly, did Draco not tell you how we spend the balls?" The boy dumbly shook his head and Theo giggled a little. "Right, so we get good snacks from the kitchen, then we go to the gardens and Draco has a little fort thing out there.  When it's time for the yule ritual Lady Cissy comes and gets us. Then when we leave we do our own little ritual in a way." Theo smiled and Harry blushed as they entered the kitchen.