Chapter Ten

Tom was in his guest room at Malfoy Manor. He was looking into a mirror at his new body, astonished at the amazing job Harry and Draco did. He looked just like when he was eighteen, but he made a few changes. His hair was a little longer and his skin wasn't as tan as before.

He had a gift that he had been wanting to give to Harry for a long time, and now was the perfect opportunity. He picked up a box and walked to Draco's room and knocked on the door carefully. Since Harry and Draco were alone, that could mean they were involved in very vigorous activities with each other. They were soulmates after all.

"Come in!"

Tom went in the room to find the two flopped on the bed.

"What happened here?" Tom asked, his long legs bringing him to the foot of the bed where he placed the gift for Harry.

"We're just really tired. Now, what's in the box?" Harry demanded. Tom chucked and motioned for Harry to open it. The brunette eagerly took it. He looked up at Tom with a confused look. "It's alive."

Tom frowned. "It was supposed to be a surprise." Harry gave it a little shake and continued examining the box. "Hurry up and open it already, Potter!"

Harry grinned and ripped the silver wrapping off and quickly removed the lid. He gasped in surprise and pleasure when he saw what was inside. Coiled in a tight circle was a very young black snake which looked like it was asleep since it wasn't moving. Harry stared into the box with a wide smile plastered on his face.

Draco crawled over and peered into the box as well. "It's very beautiful." He admitted grudgingly. Despite his house and his reaction when Harry spoke parseltongue, Draco wasn't a big snake fan.

"I've been breeding them from Nagini for years, and this batch was special. Unfortunately, only this youngling survived."

"And you decided to give her to me?" Harry's happiness was evident. His bright green eyes told Draco and Tom how much the gift meant to him. Tom turned his head so the others couldn't see how Harry's joy affected him. But he couldn't deny that seeing Harry so happy gave him a new uncomfortable warm feeling in his chest.

"How do you know it's a she, Harry?" Draco asked. Harry shrugged.

"I'm getting feminine vibes when I touch her." Harry reached into the box and gently stroked the small snake with one finger.

Wake up, baby. Meet your new owner. Harry hissed. The snake moved slightly but did not get up. Draco snorted.

"She's just like you, Harry. Doesn't get up when you need to."

"Shut up. At least I'm nice enough to let her sleep until she wants to." Harry took the snake into his hands and stroked her again.

"There are some things you should know about her. First of all, when she becomes older, she will become about as big as Nagini, but she can curl herself up to become smaller." Tom explained. Draco paled.

"But Tom! Your snake is huge!" He cried.

"She is very large. I see no problem with that." Tom snapped back. "Harry's new snake is also highly venomous, being a viper and all that. She can also become invisible at will."

Draco groaned. Harry laughed and continued to caress his snake until there was movement.

Too much noisesss. She hissed.

Sorry, darling. We'll keep it down. The snake stared at him with bright eyes.

Are you my new master? Harry Potter? She flicked her tongue out at him.

Yes, and it's just Harry.

Behind them, Draco had wrapped a pillow around his head to drown out Harry's voice. Harry smirked and tugged the pillow off Draco's head and leaned in until their noses were almost touching.

This is my mate. You shall not hurt or bite him no matter what he does to me. You are not allowed to bite others without my permission either. Understand? The snake bobbed her head up and down as if saying yes.

Harry gazed into Draco's smoldering eyes. Good.

Draco hissed in annoyance and threw a pillow at the Gryffindor. He did not appreciate the teasing, especially since Tom was in the room so they wouldn't be able to follow through on the teasing.

Tom cleared his throat. "I think I should leave you three alone." And with that, he left the room.

"What should I name her, Draco?" Harry asked innocently as if nothing had happened. Draco sighed and sat up.

"Maybe... Morana? It's Slavic for winter or death. And because this is a very venomous snake that can become invisible, the name is perfect for her." Harry thought for a while before answering.

"I like it. Can I name you Morana? Or do you not like it?"

You can name me whatever you like, master. And I quite like the name Morana. Harry grinned.

"Morana it is! Thanks, Dray."

***

Hogsmeade weekend had come again, and this time, Harry and his friends were all going. Blaise finally got up the courage to ask Ginny to go with him, and she said yes! Harry and Draco also notice Pansy and Hermione were getting very close, and wondered if they would get together in the future.

"Harry, hurry up! We're going to be late!" Draco shouted from his bed. Harry was in the Slytherin bathroom getting ready. He had woken up late, again.

"Coming! I'm coming!" Harry ran out of the bathroom wearing the outfit Draco set out for him. A Gryffindor red T-Shirt and grey leggings. He looked amazing, of course.

"You look great, Harry." Draco said, taking his mate's hand. Harry smiled and gave Draco a peck on the cheek.

"You too, love. Now let's go."

The pair walked into the corridors, and as usual, all eyes were on them. Harry and Draco simply kept walking. They were used to the attention, and they didn't really mind it.

"Hey guys!" Hermione called. She was running towards them, dragging a very annoyed Pansy behind her.

"Hey Hermione, Pansy." Said Draco. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah. Hermione made sure I woke up at sunrise! I need my beauty sleep!" Pansy whined. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"You spent the night with Hermione?"  

The two girls blushed.

"Well, we were studying, and then we might have fallen asleep, and well, yeah." Hermione

stammered.

"Sure. Let's go now!"

When they met up with Ginny and Blaise, the group set off for Hogsmead. They went to Honeydukes first to get some candy. Ginny had an order from Fred and George to get some acid pops for their joke shop, along with some stink pellets. The rest of the group stuffed their pockets with all their favorite candies.

Hermione insisted they go to Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop to get stationary even though the school year was almost ending. They bought parchment paper, new quills and stamps. Everyone was groaning and complaining about having to buy so much stuff. Each of them received a whack on the head from Hermione.

The group divided into three pairs to go their separate ways. Ginny was with Blaise, Hermione with Pansy, and Harry went with Draco.

"Where do you want to go, Harry?" Draco asked.

"Let's go to Dervish and Banges. I need to get a broom cleaning set." The Gryffindor responded.

"Alright."

Inside the shop, Harry and Draco were met by Rita Skeeter and were instantly peppered with questions.

"Harry! Draco! How are you today?" She cried, shoving a microphone in their faces.

"We're fine." Harry said in a displeased voice. He didn't like Skeeter that much.

"I'm very lucky to see you boys here. I wanted to ask you some questions about your relationship. Is that alright?" Before they could answer, Rita began talking again.

"I hear that you two are soulmates. Is this true?"

Draco sighed. "Yes, we are."

Rita's eyes widened and her magical quill immediately began scribbling notes. "How did you find out?"

"That is nothing you need to know." Harry sniffed. Rita grinned.

"Oh come on, Harry. Basically everybody in Wizarding Britain wants to know how Harry Potter got together with a death eaters son! We're all very curious. And besides, Mr. Malfoy here might turn out just like his father!" Harry felt Draco stiffen. He hated being compared to Lucius.

"We're leaving now."

***

Pansy and Hermione were sitting at a booth in the Three Broomsticks, sipping Butterbeer. They weren't talking much.

"So..." Pansy started. "Good Butterbeer, huh?" She blushed.

"Yup."

They sat in silence for a while before Pansy decided to break the ice once again.

"Do you fancy anyone right now?" She blurted out. Hermione looked startled.

"Nope."

Thankfully, they were saved by Harry and Draco telling them they had to go find Blaise and Ginny. It was almost time to go back to Hogwarts.

Hermione immediately got out of her seat and quickly walked out the door.

The group soon found Blaise and Ginny by the Shrieking Shack. And they were kissing.

"So, are you two dating now?" Pansy asked, feeling a bit jealous. She wished that were her and Hermione.

Ginny let out a small shriek. She buried her face in Blaise's shoulder and after a few seconds, gave a small nod. Everybody smiled, but Pansy's was a bit strained.