Kitten Troubles

Chapter 9

Harry wasn't sure why he kissed tom, he wasn't even sure he knew why he had called him Tom in the first place. It bothered him to no end as to why he had done what he had done, and it only bothered him because he didn't know what was going on with his body.

Harry had had been tired lately, more so than he normally would be. Even dealing with all the events that had gone on and having Severus pressure him into writing to Dumbledore on a regular basis to keep him under the assumption that he's still recovering from the battles, he shouldn't be as tired as he was. It just didn't make sense, especially since he could gain his strength from the shadows and darkness around him.

After sitting on the edge of a chair for the better part of an hour, he decided to get up and do something productive-and the first thing on his list was to go to his maps and to decide his next plan of action from there. However, on his walk back to his room, he decided that a better idea would be to write to Dumbledore and see what the Order was planning.

What he didn't count on was Tom walking into his room after he had written Dumbledore's name on the top of the parchment. He sensed him walking into the room and looked up, withholding a sigh. It wasn't that he didn't like talking to Tom-quite the opposite. And that's what scared him.

"Yes Tom?" He could practically hear the hesitation in the small step he heard him take towards him.

"I...I just wanted to apologize for being so demanding earlier. It wasn't my place to ask all of those questions, especially such personal ones." The demon turned around and looked at him in complete shock. Lord Voldemort...apologizing?! What was wrong with the world? Did the cosmos shift? Was he dreaming? No, he definitely wasn't dreaming, the kiss they had earlier definitely couldn't have been dreamt.

He quickly regained his composure and nodded before gesturing for him to come and join him.

"There's nothing to forgive. Come, sit down. I must finish this letter, but it will only take a few minutes. And then we shall do whatever you want for the day." He smiled slightly as Tom sat down on his bed before he sat in his chair and continued his letter.

Dumbledore,

I'm slowly regaining my health after the battle at the castle, however I fear it may take a bit longer than we had been planning. Snape has been helpful with my potions homework, and with the potions he's been providing for me. It really is quite helpful to understand what's happening when Potions Master puts a stasis spell on a potion in progress to explain the reactions of the ingredients.

I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to make it up to headquarters before the next school year, my legs are still too weak to support my weight very far, even with Snape's help.

Let me know what the Order's been up to lately-or what you can tell me in a letter anyway.

-Harry

He sealed the letter and sent it off with the owl Dumbledore had sent to him with the last letter he had received before turning to Tom.

"Now, what would you like to do today?" He knew what was coming next.

"Can I just ask you questions and you answer honestly?"

"Of course." The next thing that happened didn't shock him, but he had been hoping that Tom would wait a little longer before asking what he knew would come up eventually.

"Can you tell me everything about Shadow Demons?" Harry sighed and walked to the door.

"Walk with me." He led him out to the back gardens and they strolled through the roses until they reached his current work in progress.