A Change of Heart

Chapter Thirty Three

Harry just bolted. What Moody said, what they heard through the Extendable Ears, it couldn't be true. It just couldn't! Tom was not possessing him. Was he? It could not be true! But how could he be certain? It was true that he'd seen Tom's dreams before, felt his moods, but that did not mean that he was being possessed.

Of course, there still was the problem that he'd seen everything through the eye of the snake. It was Nagini, Tom's snake. But what was Tom's snake doing in the ministry? It had been searching for someone when it came upon Mr. Weasley. It did not make Harry feel any better that Mr. Weasley was not Tom's target. Tom had tried to harm someone. Harry looked around him. He had just ran out from St. Mungo's and was now in an unfamiliar part of the city. He sighed.

He sat down at a roadside cafe. He had only wizard money. He did not think he could get a coffee with it.

"Harry?" He looked up, startled to find Tom. He looked concerned as he sat down opposite Harry. He was wearing muggle clothing, Harry noticed detachedly. And he knew how to wear them too. Unlike most wizards. But then, for all his anti-muggle thoughts, he had grown up in a muggle orphanage. So, he should be knowing how to dress like a muggle.

Tom ordered two coffees and some scones.

"What happened?" He asked now.

"Are you possessing me?" Harry asked.

"No!" Tom seemed shocked. "Why do you even need to ask that? I would never do that to you!"

"Then how did you find me?"

"We're connected, but I'm not possessing you."

"Because you don't need to," muttered Harry. "You're already in my head."

"Aren't you in mine?"

"That makes it all right I suppose."

"I didn't say that."

"Okay, you are not possessing me. But are you using our connection to make me do anything bad?"

Tom looked horrified. "I would never do that Harry!"

"Why not? You did it to Ginny."

"Harry, I... I've changed... I'm not what I was then..."

"Aren't you? Then what was your snake doing in the ministry Tom? Who was she searching for?"

"Harry, I'm sorry she hurt your friend's father. But she was scared when he went for his wand and reacted as any snake would. Believe me, I would never harm anyone dear to you."

"He's more than just Ron's father." Said Harry. "He's been really good to me. They all have been. They are just like my own family. But you're missing the point. Your snake was in the ministry for someone. What does it matter it wasn't Mr. Weasley? You..."
Harry shook his head. "You were planning to harm someone. And someone else got hurt because he happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Just like Cedric."

Tom went as pale as death. "You can't say that," said he, his voice shaking.

"You hurt people, Tom. It's all you know to do."

Tom went even paler. "Harry," he began when someone came running, shouting Harry's name.

"Here you are!" Fred and George were panting. "Mum was going berserk when she heard you'd run off by yourself. Moody has alerted half the order and we heard Snape had to physically restrain Sirius from coming to look for you."

"I'm sorry," said Harry contritely. "I just... I needed some air after... you know... after what Moody said."

"I don't blame you mate," said Fred, directing a curious glance at Tom who was sitting still.

"Let's go back." Harry rose and nodded to Tom. "Thanks for the coffee, Tom."

When Harry turned to look at Tom before turning the corner, he'd vanished.