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That which we make for ourselves	By : magentasouth Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Tom Views: 38078 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I neither own nor profit from any part of the Harry Potter universe

Chapter List
- 1-That which we make for ourselves
- 2-Ch 2
- 3-Ch 3
- 4-Ch 4
- 5-Ch 5
- 6-Ch 6
- 7-Ch 7
- 8-Ch 8
- 9-Ch 9
- 10-Ch 10
- 11-Ch 11
- 12-Ch 12
- 13-Ch 13
- 14-Ch 14
- 15-Ch 15
- 16-Ch 16
- 17-Ch 17
- 18-Ch 18
- 19-Ch 19
- 20-Ch 20
- 21-Ch 21
- 22-Ch 22
- 23-Ch 23
- 24-Ch 24
- 25-ch 25 - provisional
- 26-Ch 26
- 27-Ch 27
- 5
- 6
- 7
The evening had dripped away relatively satisfyingly, Tom
thought.�

Caed had a very good memory.� He could tell him something and if the boy
understood the principle or thought the information was important, he could
usually remember it, if only in gist.� It
wasn�t as tedious to teach him as he had supposed it might be.�

It actually felt quite good to see the effect his effort had.� Caed looked
brighter and less despairing.��

He was in the bathroom right now changing into his pajamas.�

They had had a debate over whether he would stay and in the
end the boy had conceded that they had gotten through a lot of work today by
starting almost from the moment he woke.�

He had argued that he could just come up after he woke in the morning and Tom
had countered that he would oversleep or would be grumpy and that breakfast in
the great hall would waste time.�

After some back and forth Caed had relented and
agreed to sleep on his sofa again.�

He didn�t know why the thought of keeping him here, when he
knew he wouldn�t be able to physically enjoy the boy, pleased him so
greatly.�

He�d had Elana here earlier panting after him and
he�d dismissed her in order to spend more time with the awkward blonde boy who
wouldn�t touch him with a bargepole.�� Ridiculous.�

Now he would likely sacrifice another night of restless sleep knowing Caed was here and he couldn�t have him.�

He didn�t like not being able to have the things he
wanted.�

Over the last four or five years he�d come to find he could
have any student he desired.� They all
sighed and lusted after him.� Even the
males were amenable to flattery and fell to his will when he chose one.�

Among his own knights he knew
that all, with the possible exception
of Alphard..and perhaps Palmer.. would
welcome him eagerly into their beds if he were so inclined of a night.��

He would not do that with them obviously � It would be counter-productive in
his plans for his knights to do that. ��

He looked over as the bathroom door opened.�

The black pajamas the boy had
donned once again shone in the liquid manner peculiar to silk as he padded back
over to the couch.�

�Bathroom�s yours� he said nervously.�

It was an obvious statement of his desire for Tom to leave him and go and
change into his own nightwear.� He nodded
thoughtfully.�

�If you can remain awake for just a few minutes longer, Caed � I will speak to you about some of the pureblood
traditions applicable to school life.�
Not all of them obviously � that would take a very long time.��

The blonde nodded at him weakly, not meeting his eyes.� Tom could see the nervousness written all
over his posture and features.� The boy
was so transparent.�

He would have to fix that if he wanted to convince the school.� He couldn�t be bowing and simpering as a
pureblood in Slytherin.�

�Caed.�
He said seriously.� Pale emeralds lifted
to meet his own gaze. �You must have more confidence.�
Purebloods are, more than anything else, supremely confident and
self-entitled.��

The boy�s forehead furrowed and then he, slowly, changed his
posture until he was slouching in a way that somehow radiated arrogance.� His face took on a faint sneer.�

It..reminded tom very faintly of Abraxas
actually.�

Was the boy that
good at learning from demonstration?!�
That was a useful skill if
so.�

�Thats
very good, Caed!!�
Just like that!� he praised, getting to his feet and standing.�

The pale glittering eyes followed him.�
They weren�t perfect.� Didn�t
quite manage the closed indifferent superiority of the rest of his visage but
it was an enormous start, even so.�

�Are you imitating Abraxas?� he enquired curiously.�

Caed shook his head once in a way that tom could see the white-blond aristocrat
doing.� �No.� His grandson� came the reply.� �He was a massive dick-wad while I was at Hogwarts.� We didn�t get along.�� Tom smirked.

�Can you imitate
others like that?� he asked curiously.�

The boy frowned slightly and bit his lip then slowly his
posture changed again and he looked like he might wet himself with excitement
at any moment.� The eyes that were quite
innocent to begin with fairly glowed with naivete and
goodwill and he seemed to become small and energetic without even moving.

�Who is that?�

Caed answered in a breathless
overjoyed voice �a boy who worked as a photographer for the school
newspaper.� He..
he kind of had an obsession with me.��

Tom blinked and startled inwardly.� A boy had been obsessed with him?� A photographer?� He could see why � Caed
was lovely to look at. But still.. was
this boy interested in him sexually?�
What was the story behind it?�

His thoughts were diverted at the change again in the boy�s
posture.�

He looked like he was concentrating for a moment and then his posture became
withdrawn.� Subdued and
odd.�

Almost faintly threatening, without doing anything in
particular to justify it.� It was
difficult to pinpoint where the impression came from.� It was immediately recognisable to Tom however.�

�Avery!� You�ve got
his blank face and..that way he has of not quite
fading into the background!� That is
quite impressive, Caed!��

His compliment was understated.� In
actual fact he was delighted.� The boy
was very good at changing his
appearance.. changing the
impression he created.�

He would have no problem dealing with
the student body if he could do this, Tom was sure.�

But more importantly.. he might be useful
to Tom personally.�

�I would advise you to stick with imitating the Malfoy
descendent you know while you are within Slytherin.�� You might also try for Gyphus
a little if you are threatened..��

That thought pulled another thought on its heels automatically and he started
slightly at it.� Almost nervously he voiced
it to the boy.� �Can you imitate
me?��

Caed�s eyes widened slightly and
he swallowed.� �...maybe� he
murmured.�

Tom looked at him expectantly and after biting his lip for a
moment, the boy seemed to turn his attention inwardly and then he stood up,
straightening his back and shifting his shoulders.� The angle of his head changed and his facial
expression became alert, friendly but slightly reserved.�

He adjusted his pajamas slightly, his movements
smooth and fluid.�

He looked..graceful.�

�Walk.� Tom instructed, bemused.�

Caed�s eyebrows furrowed only
momentarily as if he were focusing on a memory and then he stepped a few steps
forward, confidently and gracefully.�

Tom tilted his head, fascinated.� Did he
walk like that?� He wasn�t sure.� It wasn�t something he paid conscious attention
to.�

Whether he did or not � the boy should move in that manner in the future.�
It was very flattering on him and he looked ..strong.�

�Can you imitate my speech too?� he wondered aloud, fascinated.�� This made the boy frown for a longer
while.��

Tom stepped a little closer, looking the confident, well grounded, boy up and down.�

After a few seconds Caed responded in a quiet
enunciated voice �I believe so.� What
would you like me to say?��

His jaw dropped slightly.�

It was as if he were meeting an entirely different person!� Dumbledore would be furious if he met this boy.�

On that note he responded, distractedly �Tell me your opinion of Dumbledore
then.��

The pale pink lips curved very slightly in an amused smirk
he recognised from the mirror, making him blink and widen his eyes. �Dumbledore
is a fool� Caed informed him dismissively.� �He is a manipulative old goat who plays with
lives like chess pieces on a board.� I
would delight in watching the light
fade out of his repulsive twinkling eyes.��

Tom froze.� Caed knew he wanted Dumbledore dead?!� That was something
more than simply hating the man.� That
was a lot more.� He blinked at the boy.�

�Are those your thoughts or mine, Caed?�
he asked softly.�

The boy smirked wider and said decisively �Both.�
We are of one mind on the matter, Tom.��

Snorting slightly he stepped even closer to the blonde whose
very magical-aura seemed changed, crackling around him pleasantly like
static.� Could he even affect that?!�

�Dumbledore is a meddling fool.. but whatever makes you think I
would wish him dead?��

The boy�s smirk faded and became secretive and
superior.� �I do not believe I am
inclined to tell you that.� He said,
seemingly entertained.�

Tom took the two final steps bringing him close to the boy, a quick finger
under his chin tilting his face up and looking scrutinizingly
into his eyes.� �You are... almost
perfect..� he murmured.�

Caed snorted softly. �You have a
high opinion of yourself, Tom� he muttered back.� Tom smirked, tickled.� He might have said the same thing, he realised.� He wet his lips in anticipation of the
thought that was rising in his mind.�

�Have you ever heard of...polyjuice..Caed?� he asked softly.��

It was on the seventh year curriculum.� If the boy was this good at imitation � with polyjuice he could be... anyone... convincingly. �It would be amazingly useful to have a body
double in the school whenever he desired.�

The boy�s mask faded for a second as he nodded and frowned
slightly, his face taking on a nervous expression that would never be at home
upon Tom�s own face.�

�Yes.� He offered shortly without explanation.�
The way he said it though.. tom
thought he might have used it before.

�Good..� he said softly, leaving
the topic alone.� �You are..full of surprises..Caed.� I think it would be
best if you imitated Gyphus or your familiar Malfoy
descendent in the school as much of the time as possible.� Gyphus is more
approachable and would be of more use in.. for example defense.. charms and magical creatures.�

The Malfoy superiority would be of greater benefit to you within Slytherin
house, in potions where you will find Slughorn to be dismissive of non
purebloods � and in transfiguration where it will irritate the dickens out of
Dumbledore.��

He took in the attentive nod of the blonde and continued
seriously.� �I do not want you imitating me before any student or teacher, Caed.� There may come
a time when I will ask you to do so.. and in order to be successful � no one must suspect that you
can do it.� Do you understand?��

Caed sniffed..
his expression fading to cynicism.� �I understand..� he
said in a low somewhat snide voice.�

Tom�s eyes sharpened on him.�
Was he insinuating that he would not do it?

He considered pressing the point.. perhaps
with more than a polite suggestion.. but thought that
it might be best to leave it at that, for the present.�

He would win the boy�s full trust and try to erode that strange moral
imperative he�d displayed in Defense yesterday.�

Caed cast well � but he would be of no use if he
refused to use dark magic.��

He imitated well but what good would that be if he refused to be an instrument
at Tom�s disposal.�

�Very well..� he said lightly.� �You can drop your masks now.� When you are alone with me you will never
need to be anything other than yourself.��

He moved away, stepping around the boy and approaching his bed, taking up his pajama bottoms and going to the bathroom to change.��

He returned in his dark blue pajama
bottoms, shirtless, moving slowly and cautiously to join a wide eyed and
nervous Caed on the couch again.�

�I do not like sleeping in the tops� he offered softly.� �I find them restrictive.��

The boy swallowed and averted his eyes from where Tom had seen they were
hovering around his chest, moving down toward his abdomen.�

He was well trained, he knew.� He
expended enough time each night exercising the various muscle groups in turn
precisely in order to appear aesthetically pleasing to others.�

The slight blush he had seen high on the blonde�s cheeks was
encouraging.� It suggested he had perhaps
found the sight appealing and was confused by his own reaction.�

Tom smiled faintly and half turned toward his desk,
extending a hand over the back of the sofa and wandlessly opening the hidden
cupboard disguised as three drawers�

Caed gasped in a gratifying
manner.�

It had been a lot of work to develop his wandless magic to
this level, and extremely frustrating.�
Only Gyphus and Abraxas knew he could do it,
but they were not aware of how good he had become.�

He probably should not be showing Caed.� He didn�t know whether he could trust him..yet on some level he found he automatically wanted to
trust the boy.� It felt right to do
so.�

He simply knew that the boy would not tell anyone.

He summoned a glass and metal device full of clear liquid
and perpetual ice cubes, followed by simultaneously,
a tall thin ornate green bottle, two glasses and a black and gold metallic
tin.�

When he looked back at Caed the
boy�s eyes were wide and a bit fearful.�
He raised an eyebrow and the blonde shook his head slightly.� After a second or two he mumbled �You�re even
stronger than I thought you were.��

Smiling and allowing his eyes to glitter in the firelight he
responded �You haven�t seen anything yet, Caed.� But...show me you are worthy of my trust and
perhaps in time...��

He paused thoughtfully as he set up the absinthe fountain with two glasses,
drawing from the metal box two silver absinthe spoons with serpent cut outs and
sugar cubes.�

He poured the absinthe into the bottom of the thick carved crystal classes,
placing the spoons and sugar and setting the absinthe fountain to drip its
endless ice water through the sugar into the two glasses.�

�Perhaps... in time.. I�ll teach you.. some of the more exotic things of which I am capable� he
murmured thoughtfully, glancing up at the blonde and finding him transfixed in
a mixture of fascination and fear, watching the absinthe fountain drip.�

�What is it?� he asked anxiously.�

Tom smiled. �It belonged to one of my ancestors.. It is an absinthe fountain, Caed.� I take it that you have never tried
Absinthe?��

The boy frowned.� �Its..
illegal.. I think.�
Wasn�t there something about it making a bunch of French poets go mad or
something?�� Tom smirked.

�It will not drive you mad, Caed�
he reassured him.� �I have researched the
liquor extensively.. as did
my ancestor I might add.. and concluded that the
reasoning behind its ban in the muggle world was political and commercial
rather than based in a legitimate health concern.�

It was arranged by Vodka traders who sought to dominate the market.� France took up the boycott due to their close
relations with Russia, the primary source of vodka at the time.� There is no substance to your concern.�

Wizards have enjoyed absinthe for at least one thousand years.��

He watched as the boy relaxed marginally, still looking
unsettled and avoiding looking at him directly.�

�Does it bother you to see my body?� he asked softly.� �I can go and put on a shirt if you find it
terribly unpleasant to look upon��

Caed jumped slightly and the pale green eyes.. so much like the pale green drink filling the glasses drip
by drip, he realised.. turned and looked at him
nervously.�

�No.. it�s..fine� he said uneasily.�

Tom relaxed back into the corner of the sofa, looking back
at the endearingly shy blonde perched on the edge of the couch as if he might
take flight at any second.�

�I�m not going to bite you, you know..�� he offered.� �Relax.�
Now.. pureblood
practices.��

He watched amused as the green eyes flickered down his body for a second before
flashing back upward guiltily.�

Tom considered explicitly giving the boy permission to look
at his body but decided against it, glancing to the glasses which were almost
ready.�

He shut off the ice water fountain wandlessly and levitated the absinthe spoons
to stir the icy pastel green liquid, reaching forward the to take both glasses
and passing one to Caed, who seemed not to know what
to do with it.�

Smirking, Tom leaned back into the corner of the couch,
tilting and examining the hue and comparing it to the wide emerald eyes
flicking back and forth nervously.�

�Pureblood practices� he restated, taking a sip of the delicious icy
drink.�

�We will start with your behaviour independent of others, I believe.�� He watched Caed start
to chew his lip nervously.

�For example-� he stated �-Do not do that
in public.��

�You will not chew your lip, roll your eyes, pull faces, pick at any part of
your body whatsoever with your nails, adjust your clothing or express any sound
other than speech.� Such conduct is basic
societal etiquette and should be followed regardless of one�s blood
status.�

If you must cough, sneeze, belch or
pass wind you will leave the room and seek out a bathroom in which to relieve yourself.�

You will do this if you need to adjust clothing or scratch anything also.��

He received a silent nod, Caed�s
eyes fixed determinedly upon his own.�
Suppressing a smirk he continued.�

�Your attire will be clean, tidy and appropriate to your surroundings at all
times, Caed � in other words, if you dirty a shirt
and are unable to scourgify it perfectly, you return
to your dorm and change before returning to wherever you were destined.� If it is raining, you will wear clothing that
covers your body to your wrists and ankles and will employ an impervious spell
upon your entire person, including your hair.�

In summer, briefer clothing is sometimes optional.� However, generally � it is unwise to wear
anything other than full length trousers.�

Children wear short trousers.� You are no
longer a child.

Adult males may do so only if the majority of others at the location are
expected to be wearing them.�

For example � at the beach you might wear short trousers but at the park you
would not.��

Caed frowned. �But if it�s hot
then why should I care whether everyone else is wearing shorts.� I like shorts!��

Tom raised an eyebrow. �Use a cooling charm.��

�Appropriateness is often a function of popular opinion � i.e. what the
majority are doing.� It is almost always
unwise to try to change a practice unless you are of such high status that the
majority follow you..�

�For example Abraxas might choose to wear waistcoats in velvet
combined with silk � he would not,
the two are never combined, but that is beside the point � because he did so,
many other purebloods would assume that it was perhaps a fashion in some
continental nation he had visited and rush to imitate it.�

The same would not occur if you were
to wear the garment.� You would merely be
ridiculed for your lack of fashion sense.�

�The Malfoy name
carries a lot of weight.� There are
things that he might do which I would
not hazard due to my own name � which you have already rudely pointed out, is
not among the known pureblood families.�

Caed looked at his drink
speculatively and Tom paused while he gingerly took a miniscule sip, pulling a
face immediately.

�This is really
strong!��

Tom tilted his head. �Do you like the taste?� he enquired
softly.

�Caed looked
back at him thoughtfully and took a slightly larger sip, holding it in his
mouth and considering.�

After he swallowed he said slowly �It tastes a bit like licorice.� It�s..not bad..��

Tom nodded, raising his glass slightly.� �It is a preference of the oldest pureblood families.� You may differentiate between the older and
more traditional families by such little things.� More modern families will preference infused
cognac or even firewhisky, of all things. �Traditional families enjoy absinthe or one of
three extremely rare and expensive liqueurs � Winnowthrop,
Gelfthornberry or Bruello.��

�The first two are almost impossible to come by, sourced
from plants that are almost extinct and are therefore unobtainable to all but
the uppermost elites.�

Being able to discuss the effects and
taste of them can be of significant assistance in gaining acceptance within
those circles, since little is published on the matter.��

�Bruello is a dangerous acquired
taste.� If one is not introduced to it in
early childhood, even small amounts of it can be fatal � this is part of its
attraction.�

It is also prohibitively expensive for most of the wizarding world and a child
must be given it in small doses weekly for months in order to acquire the
resistance to the cobra venom which is a component of the liqueur.�

This means that it can function as a rather extreme test of one�s heritage in
some circles.�

Those who were raised in the correct social niveau
will partake and will immediately be accepted as superior.� Those who refuse are of questionable
heritage.��

�You must understand, Caed...
there is an entire world of gradiation and ranking within the pureblood culture.� It is not simply � mudblood, halfblood and pureblood for them.��

Mudbloods and halfbloods
are entirely outside the spectrum of
�real� wizards and witches, as they view it.�

Within that spectrum one fights for place and strives to elevate oneself as far
as possible, or at least to give the flawless appearance of elevation.�� He
stopped as Caed pulled a face and looked away.� �What is it?� he asked.�

The blonde bit his lip again.

�I don�t want to be a pureblood.� Its..different in my
time.. or .. maybe its not but I never had to deal with any of that kind of
thing and I never wanted to.� Its..ridiculous..��
People are all equal.��

Tom restrained the flare of anger that cracked like a whip
at the idea that everyone was equal.��
They were not.�

Perhaps some of the pureblood customs were slightly tedious but there needed to
be order.�

Hierarchy brought order.�

He was descended from one of the
highest families and it was his destiny to be at the top of the hierarchy.�

Obviously Caed was from a very low
level if he thought that everyone should be equal.�

It was the cry of the ignorant masses..bleating for
everyone to lower themselves to their revolting level.�

He forced himself not to snap back and said quietly �Be that
as it may.. you are playing a
pureblood here.� That cannot be changed
and you must play the part convincingly.��

The boy took a larger drink of his absinthe and Tom watched
his adams apple move under
the silken skin as he swallowed it unhappily.�

�Moving on, Caed..� When travelling through your surroundings,
while looking around you, you will not
stare others in the face for longer than half a second unless you wish to
address or challenge them.�

Purebloods are.. in a sense..
somewhat like canines.�
A lot is communicated in a look.�
With your expression.. you
may unwittingly insult or challenge.� Challenge
consciously if you will, but do not do so accidentally � it proves you a fool.�
�

When entering a room, if you see any wizards you know to be of a higher social level than
yourself, it is good form to make eye contact and offer a polite nod, like so��

He demonstrated the understated faint dip of the head.�

�You do not need to do this for witches, irrespective their
social status.� Hats are presently not in
mode, however if you were to wear one, you would remove it if you were entering
the company of witches and desired to speak with them.��

Caed frowned at him attentively
and he saw the expression that the boy wore when he was remembering charms and
spells.� Good.� He was learning this.�

�You do not..ever.. walk up to unknown witches
and wizards and introduce yourself.� This
is the height of bad manners.�

You require an introduction from a mutual acquaintance.� Just as I introduced you to my circle in the dormroom two nights ago, someone must bring you to the person you desire to meet and
facilitate your introduction, generally expressing some minor information about
you to them and vice versa.�

If you are pursuing a closer friendly acquaintance with the wizard you, or they, will offer a hand � the hand of
friendship, as it were. �

They may offer a hand first or they may nod.�
The meaning of this varies according to your relative status.��

�If they are of lower status you may either return their
hand or you may ignore it and nod at them.�

This is not insulting, particularly if there is a considerable status
difference between you.�

If they are of higher status and
offer their hand you will accept it or risk insulting them.�

If they do not offer their hand and instead nod,
simply nod back - they are indicating that they are amenable to meeting you but
do not at present desire a closer association.��

He paused thoughtfully, his eye on the soft bottom lip of the naive blonde,
which was wet with the aniseed flavoured liquid.�

He wanted to lean forward and lick it and shifted his gaze in time to see Caed blink and look up from where his own eyes had been
resting, which was, apparently, again
some distance below his chin.

He smiled inwardly.�
Whatever the boy thought his sexual orientation might be, he was
attracted to him. �It was visible in his
shy looks, the way he held his absinthe in front of him as if hiding behind it.�

Caed had half finished the glass already,
Tom noticed. �He considered absently
whether or not to make him a second one. His eyes still looked quite bright but
he didn�t wish to knock the boy out with hard liquor.

He drew a breath and continued.�

�Most first meetings will involve a nod. Your meeting with my associates proceeded differently
purely on the strength of my bond
with them.� In other situations, however,
a pureblood may wait to see what your
intentions are in seeking them out.�

If you offer them your hand and it is ignored, you will offer a nod � if this is ignored, you will make a polite
excuse and withdraw.� To remain after
that point is terribly rude.�

If a handshake is exchanged, generally the introducing party will politely
remove themselves after the conversation begins.� In this
case � you can from this point on approach the wizard in question independently
to initiate conversation and you will not need to offer a hand unless you have
been out of contact for a longer period � for example if you met them in Diagon Alley, but not if you met them in the corridors.��

He paused again, noting the faint nod of the other boy for
him to continue.�

�If you do not seek a closer acquaintance with, or are not
on friendly terms, for whatever reason. with the wizard
you are introduced to, generally neither will offer a hand, but the lower
ranking individual as established by the order of introductions, will give a
brief nod.�

If this is returned by the higher party, the exchange may continue.� There is no assumption that either party will
be able to approach the other on subsequent occasions.�

A facilitator will be required thereafter, however introductions will be
curtailed.� For example � I might say � �Levithea Kant, I believe you are acquainted with Caedmon Piper.� Caedmon and I were just discussing the quidditch game of the past Saturday and Caedmon observed
that your treatment of Randal Prenker following his
foul was quite admirable.��

He smiled briefly at the other boy�s slightly bemused
expression.

�And every person I talk to outside of your friends and you
� I have to go through this with?!� How
the hell would I have made friends if I didn�t know you?�� Caed looked
horrified.

Tom sniffed, amused�

�Well.. without me you would likely have put yourself
into a bind by trying to approach Slytherin purebloods and, after being
rebuffed, would have tried to find friends in other houses among the more
ignorant or opportunistic of impure blood.�
This would have put you at odds with Slytherin and with the purebloods
generally � who are the majority in Hogwarts.�

The introduction by Professor Dumbledore already set you up for this.�

Phrasing it in such a way that it was implied that Grindelwald
had virtually personally executed
your parents implied that your blood status was questionable, whatever your name.��

Caed frowned and stared into the
remains of his absinthe. �Yeah.. I..
I kind of got that impression from the way everyone was looking at me.� I...didn�t think he�d do that.�� The boy took a large gulp of the icy drink,
looking up to Tom resolutely. �Doesn�t matter though.� Fuck him.�

So who�s Leviwhatsit and why am I not going to be
friends with him or her then?��

Tom found the vulgarity and..hate.. that
the boy had momentarily displayed very interesting.�

He�d said before that he wanted to kill Dumbledore too..� He wondered
why.� Caed
seemed quite irate for the minor nasty things that Dumbledore had done so
far.�

He entertained a small suspicion in the back of his mind.� Caedmon knew
Dumbledore.� That was why he had asked
for him.�

Still.. there
was a small possibility that the boy
was lying about everything and was here as
Dumbledore�s plant.�

He didn�t really think it to be the case, although the boy
had demonstrated extremely good acting abilities.. and his story was quite far-fetched..�

All the same.. he had the
most peculiar feeling that he could
trust Caed.� It
was not a natural feeling for him.� In
fact.. he could not remember ever having felt this way before.� That alone disturbed and put him on guard.

He felt..comfortable.. around
him.� As if he remembered the boy...as if
he were familiar in some way.�

It was a most singularly unusual feeling.�

Caedmon wouldn�t betray him to Dumbledore.

�Tom??� the slightly husky voice queried at his extended
silence.�

He blinked and shook his head as if to say nevermind
and continued with the explanation the boy sought: �

�Levithea �is a Gryffindor
sixth year witch from a fairly elevated family and it is therefore not to be
automatically expected that either of you would initiate a close
acquaintance.�

I would, were it not for my head boy status, possibly not be in a position to
introduce you in fact.� �

Caed nodded, seeing the
point.� He looked down and then finished
the last of his drink, continuing to hold the empty glass before him, fiddling
with the stem distractedly.� �can..can I ask a question that
might be impolite?� he asked finally.�

Tom raised an eyebrow and nodded for him to go on.�

�Um..� I know... your name..
um.. must come from a
muggle.. ��

The green eyes darted up nervously as if expecting him to curse him at any
second.

�Sorry. I.. I know you said you don�t want me to
mention it.� I..was
just wondering about your ..your mother�s family.� I..you..you don�t have to answer.�
I was just curious.��

Tom balanced on conflicting emotions of anger, uncertainty
and temptation.� He could not tell Caedmon.. who he had known for all of two
days.. who he in fact did not know at all.. anything about his true
heritage.�

He was not even really content to inform him of his mother�s maiden name.�

He did not wish to discuss his birth or background in any way whatsoever in
fact!��

Delaying, he swirled his absinthe in his glass and watched
it pensively.�

�Nevermind.� I�m sorry I asked.� Caedmon hushed out.�

He looked up at him sharply, noting the slight flinch. �I�m
afraid I haven�t had enough to drink to discuss those matters yet Caed.� Perhaps you
would care for another..� he gestured to the
absinthe.�

Caed tilted his head and licked
his lips slightly, as if considering.� �I..shouldn�t.. I don�t really drink much and.. it�s a bit strong.��

Tom shrugged.� �If you
would like one, you may demonstrate how well you observed and make us both
another.� He brought his glass to his
lips and tipped it back, enjoying the sugary dregs and offering Caed his goblet.�

The blond blinked and smiled slightly, taking the glass off
him. �um..ok then� he said
softly and did just that.�

Tom slouched down deeper on the couch slightly, making himself comfortable and watched him, wishing that he would
take his pajama shirt off.�

On impulse he wandlessly cast a very gentle warming charm on him.�

�In pureblood society there are very different rules for
interacting with wizards and witches.�
Most of these rules are softened while in school and some are ignored
altogether.� For example � you would
never remain in a room alone with several young witches outside of Hogwarts.� Here however you might find yourself in a
study room with only younger witches and this would be acceptable.��

He observed the faint rosiness on Caed�s
cheeks indicating that the alcohol and warming charm were doing their
work.�

�Some rules that do
remain in Hogwarts however are that you will never enter an official duel with a witch, irrespective
of her blood status.�

Although � you will never enter into an official duel with
anyone of lower blood status either.�

Duels are in that case without recourse to the traditional dueling
laws and rulings established in 1436 and updated in 1822.� In other words � in duels with half and mudbloods you may use any
spell or tactic to prevail and there will be no further ramifications if you
kill your opponent � however the same is not the case if a mud or half blood
were to kill you in such a duel.� You are � in that sense � protected in some
ways from the possible attacks of the impure.�

Although.. as Dumbledore has
positioned you with such individuals
anyway � this protection is not really relevant to you.��

He accepted the absinthe that Caed
offered him.�� He had followed the steps
he observed exactly.��

Tom sipped and watched a small bead of sweat build at the edge of Caed�s forehead.� The
boy saw him looking and wiped it away hastily, looking embarrassed.�

�The fire is quite warm� Tom observed neutrally.� �and the alcohol is
widening your capillaries, increasing the blood flow to your skin � heating
you.�� You could cast a cooling charm..�� He hesitated and
rested his head back on the couch, examining the firelight reflected through the
pale green milky liquid in his glass.�

�personally I prefer the warmth of the fire on my skin
to the chilly grip of a cooling charm � but to each their own.��

Taking another sip he thought back to what he had been
discussing.�

�Now.. there
are many ways to issue a challenge to others and it is not only foolish to
accidentally issue one but also to fail to recognise when one is made to
you.� The most important-��

he heard a soft fabric sound and glanced over to see that Caed had unbuttoned his pajama
shirt and opened it slightly, exposing a slender but leanly muscled torso and
abdomen. He had quite nice abdominal muscles and Tom wondered whether he might
play quidditch.�
He could be a swimmer, he considered also.�

Seeing Caed watching his perusal with a flighty
embarrassed expression he continued, keeping his gaze above the neck for the
moment.�

�-thing to watch for are gestures.� They are the concrete indicators of a
challenge.� You might anticipate one is
coming by facial expression and duration of staring. �

In the right circumstances � where a specific gesture would be inappropriate,
such as in a polite social gathering which one does not wish to disrupt � a
facial expression and stare can be sufficient as a challenge.� The parties will then remove themselves and
exchange a verbal challenge.� Most of the
time, however, physical gestures are used.��

He silently sent another extremely weak warming charm at Caed as he spoke, turning away to
look into the fire and noting in his peripheral vision with delight how the boy
spread his shirt wider.

�The most common gesture, universally recognised, is to draw
ones wand and bring it to the right shoulder, flicking it then diagonally
downward as if casting something off. Like so:��

he brought a fist to his heart as if holding a wand and then flung his hand
downward and across his body as if tossing something down.�

�This challenge cannot be refused.� It is
made publically and will be contested publically.� It is an immediate
challenge � no deferral is possible.� The
wizard who has issued it is going to
attack you- imminently.�

You will have recourse to the rules and regulations if you accept the challenge
by reflecting the gesture back.� If you
do not accept the challenge, the wizard may withdraw, however in practice � generally
will not.� He will simply attack you as
if you were a half or mudblood.� It is
therefore in your interests to recognise and respond to this kind of
challenge.�

Tom forced himself to remain looking at the fire and talking
while he registered Caed taking off his pajama shirt completely.�
He hid his anticipation by sipping at his own glass thoughtfully.�

�The second most common challenge is a deferred public challenge.�
In this � the wizard places his wand as in the first challenge but sweeps
it across vertically before his face and then straight down.� Like this:��

he demonstrated, allowing himself finally..finally.. to
glance over at Caed, not reacting at all to his
exposed state.�

His shoulders were stronger than he had noticed.� In totality he was a delightful package.�

Strong and yet slender, like a sapling not yet broken by the
first harsh storms.�

�If you are issued with this challenge you reflect it and
then the wizard issuing it will state a time and place to carry out the
duel.� You can reject this and suggest
another.� If you bicker back and forth
too much however the other wizard may escalate to an immediate challenge.�

The next two challenges you must recognise are the immediate and delayed
private challenges.�

They are exactly as the first two but are made without a drawn wand.�� Because of this they are sometimes
abbreviated to small hand gestures in polite company.��

He demonstrated a small diagonal slash with a straight hand
held low and then a horizontal and vertical slash in the same way.�

They were things one might send someone across a room or during class �
particularly the delayed private challenge.�
He had seen them made below desk level in classes often.�

�It is imperative that you recognise these in class and
around the corridors.� You may even receive
one in the great hall.�

Caed looked at him with extreme
focus and nodded.�

�Do you play quidditch?� he asked tangentally, his mind on the boy�s body more than challenge
etiquette among purebloods.�

Caed smiled and nodded.� �I�m... I was
a seeker.��

Tom raised his eyebrows. �The coveted position no less!� Do you think you will try out for the Slytherin
team?�

He hoped Caed would say no but it seemed he had not
considered the prospect and now looked thoughtful.�

�I..don�t know.. why?..
Should I?!��

An approving look was gifted for the boy�s questioning what
Tom might prefer him to do.� After
consideration he responded.� �It would
depend upon how good you were.� Our
current seeker is quite passable.� Freya Edgecomb.� She caught
the snitch three times last season.�

Caed smirked and Tom narrowed his eyes at him. �Why?.. do you believe you are
better?��

The boy gave a curt nod.�
�Or at least.. I was when I last played.. which was almost a year ago, so
I guess I might not be anymore.� In fifth
year I caught the snitch in seven of sixteen games and missed two games cause I was in the infirmary.� In sixth year I only played five games and
caught the snitch three times.��

Tom looked at him, slightly startled.� That was better than the best seeker of the
four houses, Greta Klett of Ravenclaw
� who had caught six snitches last season and had played in every game.�

Gyphus had wanted to date the fifth year girl for a
while when he was in sixth year and had waxed lyrical on her skill and beauty.

�Perhaps.. you
might like to try for the team then..� he said thoughtfully.. �I...hesitate
because the Slytherin keeper and captain is a boy I would prefer you had little contact with.��

A suspicious expression appeared on the blonde�s boy�s
face.� He looked slightly flushed and this Tom was certain was
because he had already almost finished his second absinthe.� It seemed he did like them.�

�Why should I keep away from him?� he asked dubiously.�

Tom let his head slip back and thought about how to phrase
it without mentioning any of the things he had not yet told Caed
about his knights and his role in the school.�

�He...has an issue with me.�
We had a misunderstanding at the beginning of the year and I am certain
he will try to befriend you and seed conflict.�

He is..intelligent and very persuasive. �I am sure that he will convince you with his
manner and compliments that there is no reason for concern..
and in short order you will be questioning everything
I have told you.. you will be challenging and arguing
and in no time we will fall out, as you decide you would rather circulate with
his little group.��

�Of course.. at
the point that I cease to have any
interest in you, his group will abandon you like a canker.�

Then you will be alone again.�

Not only alone.. you will be
alone in Slytherin, distrusting myself, my group and our intentions toward you
and shunned by all others.

...I..do not want that to happen.� I have the impression you tend to think the
best of everyone and Wilkes is extremely convincing.� So...yes.. I am
concerned.��

At the same time � if you can help Slytherin to win the quidditch
cup back from Ravenclaw.. I
feel I should advise you to try out.��

He sipped his absinthe and looked back at Caed, who seemed slightly less suspicious perhaps.�

�Who are they then?�
Why did you have a.. misunderstanding?��

Tom licked his lips pensively, sizing him up.� He..could..tell him a little
perhaps.� If he was
cautious.�� He allowed his eyes to
drift over the body glowing with health in the firelight and sighed slightly.�

�The boy I am speaking of is Clemens Wilkes � you did not
see him but he already tried to seek you out as a partner in defense before Roan took you aside.��

Caed narrowed his eyes obviously looking
inwardly.� �Blonde guy, tall?� he asked
slowly.�

Tom nodded, impressed he�d even noticed.�
He�d looked quite oblivious at the time.�
�That�s him.�� He circulates with Bellico Yaxley, Benjamin Travers
and Callista Kent.�

Yaxley � you have in magical creatures - I will try
to remember to point him out in potions on Monday. He�s from a
upper middle range pureblood family; slightly below the Pipers perhaps.� Travers is of a similar level.� You might have him in arithmancy
perhaps.� His family are academics like
Roan�s.� They share most of their
classes.�

Callista is a very pretty blonde girl who is utterly
poisonous.� I�ve no doubt, with the way
that you looked at Elana earlier, that Callista would have you eating out of her hand in no
time.�

She�s very clever.. stunning
green eyes..� Admittedly
not as lovely as yours, but quite striking all the same.��

Caed blushed, seeming a bit
flustered and looked at his empty glass to calm himself.

�She studies elemental magic � which suggests she might have
some fae in her lineage somewhere.� That is a class which can only be taken by
those with a gift for it.� I, for
example, did not pass the entrance test.�
I am not an elemental wizard.��

He glanced down at his glass which was still half full and, against
his better judgement, drank it quickly, offering the empty to Caed and gesturing at the absinthe so that he might make
them both another.�

He had considered offering the boy his.�
Generally he did not indulge in more than two, however it seemed to make
the blonde relax and Caed wasn�t visibly hazy or
slurring his words.�

He was surprised at the comment that came while Caed was turned away preparing the classes under the ice
water fountain.�

�You have nice eyes too..� Like sapphires.� I.. I knew a wizard
who had red eyes once.� Yours are
better.��

He thought on the peculiar compliment.� �Thank you� he offered softly.� �What do you mean by red eyes?� Bloodshot?� Or was there perhaps some kind of spell
damage or cosmetic change to render the wizard�s irises red?��

There was no response for a few seconds and then Caed seemed to sigh.�
�No.. the entire eye
was red.�� Red red.� Blood coloured.� And he had vertical pupils.� It was creepy.� �

Tom tried to imagine this.�
�But how-� he started.� Caed interrupted. �yeah.. spell damage I guess you
could call it.� I don�t know whether it
was intentional.� I never asked.��

Tom lay back and thought about the image the blonde had
painted.� Reaching out a hand he summoned
a sugar cube and transfigured it into a hand mirror, noting peripherally the
impressed expression on Caed�s face.�

Looking at his own face he applied a glamour to his
eyes experimentally.� It was quite hard
to glamour eyes.� Generally they were the
only part of a glamour that didn�t take � but he�d worked on that as a personal
project a couple of years ago.

After some fiddling he had red eyeballs and black
slits.� He thought it looked quite
interesting.. a bit like a
snake.��

Creepy, as Caed had said, but definitely an
interesting effect.� It was possible that
whoever it was had done it on purpose.�

He turned and looked at Caed for a
second opinion to find that he�d scooted all the way back to the end of the
couch and was pressed into the tall armrest looking terrified.�

Tom furrowed his brow, slightly confused.� �Caed?� What�s wrong?� He asked, concerned.�

Realising himself he flicked his hand dispelling the glamour, observing the way
it took more than a few seconds for the hyperventilating boy to calm his
breathing down even a little.�

Swallowing, he got up and moved closer tentatively, sitting
down in front of him.� �I�m sorry.� I didn�t realise that it would upset you..� You mentioned it
and I wondered what it would look like.�
I would not have done it if I had known you would react this way.��

He could almost hear
the boy�s heartbeat going at ten to the dozen and wanted to calm him.�

Caed shook his head faintly in distraught response to
the reassurance.��

Hesitantly, unsure what he was doing he reached forward and
pulled the panicky blond to him, hugging him and rocking slightly as he had
when he had been crying on the road to Hogsmeade.�

The difference was though that now he could feel the hot smooth skin pressed
against his own.� He tried to ignore the
excitement of his body in response to this, pushing the faint stirring feeling
down.�

�Shh..� I�m sorry.� he said softly.� �I won�t ever do it again�

After a while he felt shaky, arms, flinching back
uncertainly, wrap themselves around him gingerly in
return.�

He savoured the feeling, wishing he could turn his head and kiss the boy.�

Instead he pulled back slowly, before Caed
got to the point where he did so himself, and looked into the beautiful,
intensely conflicted face, only ten inches away. ��Are you ok, Caed?� ��

A response was not immediately forthcoming and he thought Caed might be thinking about it seriously, unsure whether
he was.��

He could still feel the warm silk of his skin in his mind, as it had pressed
against his chest.� The pain of desire
was almost unbearable.�

He barely had the presence of mind to toss a glamour
over his pajama pants where his interest could be
plainly seen if the boy looked down right now.�

�..I..think so..� Caed offered with a slightly husky voice.�

Tom had to move away.�
If he stayed this close to him he was going to end up throwing caution
to the wind and having him.�

As encouraging as the boy�s reaction was, he didn�t think he�d respond
favourably to kisses and intimate touches at present..
which would mean he�d end up forcing him again.�

No.� He wanted more
this time.� He wanted a memory that Caed would keep..

Reluctantly he forced himself to get up and move back to the
other corner of the couch, lying back as he had been before.� Hissing in displeasure he noticed the
absinthe glasses standing in wide puddles on the table as they had overflowed
slowly.�

�Oh.. fuck..
� Caed said, sounding
afraid. �will it damage the table?� I didn�t mean to waste any.� I�m sorry!!��

He looked at him thoughtfully.� It was the response of someone who had been
punished harshly for spilling things in the past.� He had seen it before in the orphanage.�

He himself didn�t have that problem much.�
Spills cleaned themselves up mysteriously when he was a young child and
by the time he was older, he had become very careful and precise in order to
avoid punishments.�

He answered Caed gently.� �It is nothing.� I could create a new table from a quill if I
required but there will be no damage.�
The waste is unfortunate but I have enough absinthe
to spare.�

It is only a pity to have to remake and wait for two more drinks.� These ones will taste weak and unpalatable
now.��

He waved a hand, banishing the liquid on the table and in
the glasses.� Another spell repaired the
slight white shadow left by the absinthe puddles on the table and further
concentration set the sugar up over each glass.�

�I will show you another way of preparing it then..� he said, smiling.�

Turning he levitated the bottle and poured the absinthe into
the glass through the sugar cube.� When
both were prepared in this manner he flicked a finger at them one by one,
igniting the alcohol soaked sugar.� It
burned with purple flames, sizzling and dripping liquid sugar down into the
green liquid below.�

Caed, he saw, was transfixed.�

When the fire had died down and the sugar had ceased to melt, he turned on the
ice water fountain, melting the rests and filling the glasses quickly, stirring
them and passing the other boy one.�

�It is a quicker method and the fire is quite attractive,
don�t you think?��

Caed half smiled at him and
nodded, sipping his absinthe and then pulling a face.� �it tastes
different.��

Tom nodded. �yes.� It�s stronger this way and slightly
smokier.��

Caed took a slower sip, letting
the liquid slosh around in his mouth a little contemplatively.

�You prefer it the other way.� He informed him, seeing it on
the boy�s face.� Caed
nodded.

�I do too.� He said. �but its passable like this also.��

He watched the other boy nod and then yawn, putting his hand
over his mouth and seeming surprised.�
Ah.� The effects
of alcohol.� Perhaps he shouldn�t
have made him another.� He was almost
certain Caed would be on the floor by the time he�d
finished this one.�

�What was it like in your time?� he asked him idly,
wondering whether the boy was tipsy enough to speak freely. �Was it very
different to Hogwarts now?� Diagon Alley
now?��

Caed scowled at him sharply at the first question but
the second seemed to soften him a little and he shook his head.

�no.� pretty much the
same.� Some different
shops.� People wear different
clothes.� There�s some stuff you don�t
have yet I spose but it�s not much.� I guess the wizarding world doesn�t change
very fast.�

Hogwarts is identical far as I can tell. Cept none of
my friends are here.� Course.. none of my enemies..� he jolted
and trailed off, looking away guiltily and swallowing.�

Tom puzzled at the strange response.� What did it mean?� Was he irritated at revealing that none of
the current students here would be his enemies in the future or was he reacting
at the memory that some people he�d already seen over the last two days would be his enemies.�

He�d said he wasn�t supposed to survive.�
Tom struggled to put all the little things together.�

It didn�t produce a coherent whole yet.�

The way Caed had reacted earlier
to the glamour.. one of his
enemies might have eyes like that, Tom mused.�

The way the boy had looked..� Something clicked
slightly.. �The
hate the boy had flashed at him in Dippets office.. the fear he�d shown in the
forbidden forest.�

He was Caed�s
enemy in the future somehow.� He knew him.. He�d
recognised him from the
beginning.�

�Caed?...�
he said softly and the boy turned to him with a confused and so very young
expression.�

He had been about to ask but, seeing the look on the boy�s
face he changed his mind.� No.. it would ruin everything.�

Later.. another time.. when the boy trusted him more, he�d explore that dark little
avenue and see where it led.�

In the meantime he�d just have to be careful.�

If Caed hated him as much as he�d shown in Dippet�s office, perhaps the fact that he needed help to
survive here wouldn�t matter to him.�

He was a Gryffindor after all � well known for rushing in where angels feared
to tread.

�Nothing.� It doesn�t matter.� He said, shaking his head
faintly.�

�What time is it?!� the boy asked suddenly.� He patted his leg and seemed to remember he
was wearing pajama bottoms, looking about panicked
for his wand.

Tom cast tempus. the glowing dial showing two
thirty.�

�Your wand is right over there.� Look.�
You can see it from here.� I
promise you don�t need it right now.�
Calm down.� He said soothingly.��

His mind was still playing over the fact that Caed
probably knew him in the future.. or..
perhaps..perhaps he only knew
of him. �

Had he perhaps followed through with his back up plans in
the case that he could not work in the ministry?�

Had he..was it possible that he had attained the
darkest of his secret fantasies for the future?�
Had he become something like Grindelwald?� A dark wizard who would go down in the annals
of history?��

If he had, how much did Caed know
about him?�

If he had..was it even worth
pursuing the place in the ministry?� The
future was already written..

He was jolted from his thoughts by the soft raw voice he had
already decided he found inexplicably soothing.

�hmm?� he said, looking up and being taken once again
by the loveliness of the boy.�

�I said.. i�m
getting tired.��

He glanced at the glass the boy was holding.� It was empty.�
Smirking, Tom shook his head slightly and held out his own half full
glass.

�It appears you are quite enthused
about absinthe, Caed.�
Finish mine and we�ll go to bed.��

Caed looked at him quite shocked
but leaned forward and accepted the glass that he had been drinking from.�

He glanced between it and Tom�s face several times before lifting it to his
lips and draining it, closing his eyes and savouring the thicker syrupy
dregs.�

When he opened them he looked faintly happy.�
�The last mouthful is the best� he mumbled in explanation.�

Tom smiled back. �yes.��

He yawned, stretching himself over the end of the
sofa, his arms bent above his head and hearing his neck click faintly.�

When he looked back at the boy Caed
was slack jawed, staring at him with a somewhat mesmerised expression.�

�you look really good� he mumbled dazedly. �do you work out?�

Tom furrowed his brow.�
Did he work out?� Work out
what?� He tilted his head, smiling as
enticingly as he could.�

�Thank you, Caed..� I don�t know the term � but I assume you�re
asking if I exercise.� Yes.. I exercise a lot...Perhaps
in the morning you can join me in my daily callisthenics.� I omitted them this morning... that is.. yesterday morning.��

The blonde nodded with the familiar confused fearful
expression on his face again.�

Tom could see the responses tick over in his brain.� Caed found him
attractive and then, when he realised it each time, he reacted with horror and
denial.�

But that was fine.� The most important
point was that he did find tom
attractive.�

Standing he returned the absinthe apparatus to the desk by
hand, purely in order to have the other boy watch him as he moved and
bent.�

When it was all put away he turned to find Caed had
stretched himself out on the sofa ready for bed.�� He strolled over and leaned on the back of
the sofa, tilting his head and looking down at him speculatively.�

�You may share the bed, if you wish� he offered softly.� �It is certainly more comfortable.� It�s a lot warmer than the sofa and quite big
enough for three.��

Caed looked frightened.� �No.. no i�m fine here.� he
managed.�

Shrugging, Tom moved away, disappointed.� �Suit yourself� he
said lightly, sending over a pillow and blanket and climbing into bed.��

�Thanks.� Um.� goodnight.��

He offered a quiet goodnight in return and pulled the covers
up to his shoulders, extinguishing the lamp and staring up at the stone
segments of the roof far above irritatedly.�

Thinking of how effective the warming charms had been in
removing Caed�s outer layer he smirked.�

Surreptitiously he vanished the pajama
top from where it lay on the floor and cast a very gentle cooling charm on the
blanket Caed was using and the couch he lay
upon.�

He placed his arms behind his head and waited for a few
minutes and then cast another pair of very gentle charms.�

After ten minutes he heard the sound of Caed
moving and peered at him subtly.� He was
looking for the pajama top.�

Tom smirked nastily.� Any
minute now.�

He didn�t dare risk another cooling charm.�
It would become obvious to the boy that his covers were getting colder
when they should be getting warmer.�

He remembered the boy�s wand and hoped like hell the tipsy little fool wouldn�t
remember it and cast a warming charm.�
Then he heard a soft stage whisper.

�Tom?..Are you awake?��

Triumph flooded him.. Or.. more properly, he thought,
::triumph:: flooded him.� The
parseltongue word didn�t quite have the same meaning � it meant �the taste of
prey caught with much skill and cleverness�.�

�mmm?� he
responded as if half asleep.�

�I�m.. ...nevermind�
Caed lost his nerve and stilled again.�

Tom frowned with his eyes closed and then offered in a
sleepy voice.� �If you�re cold you can
sleep here.� I�m not getting up to
transfigure any more blankets right now.��

There was a long pause and then he heard, delight of
delights, slow (probably quite frightened, he supposed), padding steps cross
the room to the other side of the bed.�

He kept his eyes closed, feeling the covers drawn down tentatively and then the
mattress shift slightly as the other boy got in.�

�Um.. sorry!!�� Caed said in a
voice that sounded terrified. �

Tom shook his head slightly and mumbled as if half asleep �It�s
fine. Night Caed.��

He lay still, letting his breath come slow and regular and
simulating sleep while listening intently and focussing on the movement of the
other boy.�

He was very still and Tom could actually feel
him staring at him.� It was as if the
gaze had a physical presence upon his skin, crawling over his bicep, his jaw,
his mouth.�

It took a very long time for Caed
to settle and lie down and when he did, he did so facing Tom.�

Only when he was certain
that Caed was truly sleeping and not simulating as he had been did he move, as if rolling
in sleep, his eyes still closed, till he could face him and peek through his
lashes at the lovely face, relaxed in repose, one arm under the pillow and the
other curled against his body.�

He put a hand out of the covers on the edge of the bed and
summoned his wand silently, casting a protego horribilis shield upon himself.�

Although he could cast a number of shields wandlessly now, the horribilis shield was tricky and he did not wish to err
when sleeping in a bed with a boy who might consider him some form of
enemy.��

The shield was sufficient though, he decided.�
It would prevent magical or physical contact with the intent to harm.

Unless the boy could cast the killing
curse...�

He probably could not, to judge by his attitude in defense and duelling, however as a
paranoid afterthought he summoned the boy�s wand carefully and placed both
wands on the bedside table, casting a wandless glamour over them to appear as a
book.�

Only then did he allow himself to cautiously slip into true
sleep.

Author note.

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