Disclaimer: J. owes all those wonderful characters.

Author's Note:Okay, this chappie is rather short, but to compensate for that it's posted earlier than usual! Yay!

31. RAINY BREAKFAST

It was already quarter past eight and everyone who had the misfortune to have to get up for the first lesson of the day was already up and eating his or her breakfast in the Great Hall. Draco sat at the Slytherin table, surrounded by his friends, and was diligently preparing Harry's breakfast, who had the audacity to not have shown up and apologised repeatedly for skipping dinner last night. That boy really needed to change his priorities!

Tom at the same time at the head table had similar thoughts also concerning his missing husband. Rudolphus and Rabastan had informed him that Harry had spent the night with them, and- he was rather proud of himself- he hadn't lost his temper and had just told them that it was fine. Naturally, it wasn't fine, though he had no real reason to dislike the notion so much- besides the obvious ones- but he doubted very much that it was anyone's fault. The two Death Eaters hadn't been able to resist Harry's pleas, something that he wasn't very good at either and well, Harry hadn't wanted to stay the night with some pubescent Gryffindors, something he could relate to absolutely. Still, Harry should be eating breakfast by now and not gazing at the clouds or whatever it was he did when it rained. Harry got really weird when it rained, happy, adorable, but definitely weird.

The double doors burst open and a beaming black-haired boy with laughing green eyes walked through them, leaving a trail of rain water in his leave. Harry smiled at everyone who stared flabbergastedly at him shaking his head like a wet dog, not minding the wet strands that clung to his cheeks and the rest that stuck up even wilder than usual. His clothes were totally soaked and accordingly heavy, but Harry couldn't care less and sauntered over to where Draco sat with his friends.

"Good morning", Harry smiled at the Slytherins, kissing Draco and dripping water on his immaculate cloak.

"Yuck, Harry", Draco freed himself from the light embrace, scowling darkly at the younger boy, "You did that on purpose!"

"Of course, Draco", Harry patted his hair, "Whatever you say. See you later", he winked at Blaise, who was trying hard not to laugh out loud, and climbed the three steps that separated the students from the teachers table.

"Morning, Rudolphus", he kissed the brown-haired man on the cheek, "Morning, Rabastan", he repeated the action, "Did you sleep well?"

They nodded mutely, giving Harry the once-over, which he allowed smirking slightly: "You look good."

"Why, thank you, Rabastan", the green-eyed boy returned, "I feel good as well", he turned to Tom, who had watched the whole scene in silence, "Good morning, Tom."

"Good morning/precious/", Tom pulled Harry a little closer, trapping him between himself and Severus, "I take it you slept well?"

"I stayed at Rudolphus' and Rabastan's room", Harry said, tensing up, preparing himself to protect the two older wizards, "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you earlier."

"It's fine", he smiled slightly, "They already told me, don't worry."

Once again a smile spread over Harry's face as he ducked his head to kiss Tom's cheek, pressing a small folded piece of paper into Severus' hand.

"Harry", Dumbledore just had to meddle once more, didn't he? No, he didn't, but he did so anyway, "Students are not supposed to kiss their teachers, I don't want this to happen again. I'm sure you understand."

"No, enlighten me, will you, Headmaster?", Harry turned around, half sitting on the arm of Tom's chair, "Why exactly am I not allowed to kiss my husband?", the last word was barely more than a hiss.

"I doesn't set a good example for the other students..."

"They can elect someone else to be their good example. "

"It shows disrespect for your professors..."

"I don't hear them complaining."

"It undermines the authority of the teachers..."

"I doubt very much that Tom will have a problem with that, will you, Tom?", Harry asked, half turning around.

"I agree", Voldemort answered, "And now, Dumbledore I would appreciate it, if you could shut up so that everyone may enjoy their breakfast. I think it's enough you kept Harry from his meal last night. I won't repeat myself."

"Mr. Potter", McGonagall interrupted the strained silence, "Since you're already up here you might as well have your timetable now. And Mr. Potter, I fully expect Gryffindor to win both the Quidditch and the House Cup... Don't disappoint me!"

"But, Professor", Harry winked at her, "Who else could possible win them?"

"It might have escaped your notice, Potter", Severus sneered, "but there are three other houses in Hogwarts."

"No, really, Professor?", Harry teased lightly with his eyes as wide as saucers, "Would that be the reason why there are four house tables? I always wondered about that, but now that I think about it, it kind of makes sense. What was your house again? Something small and insignificant... Something with 's' right? Was it 'Smudgies'?..."

"Potter, if this is a check for my patience. I have none", Severus growled dangerously, "Go, bother someone else."

/You wanted to go visit Madam Pomfrey, Tom reminded him gently/Why don't you ask her now? And, sweetie, don't ever call me a Smudgy or small and insignificant again./

"Of course, Tom", Harry smiled and squirmed out of the half embrace before Tom could kiss him like he had planned to, "Ah, ah, ah, keep it down, Tom, wouldn't want to blow your cover, would you?", he sauntered over to the other end of the table, where the school nurse was enjoying her breakfast, happily chatting with the Herbology teacher, while Severus unfolded the short message Harry had scribbled for him:

Rise and shine, Severus (consider yourself kissed), lots to do today: frighten the poor little firsties, torture the poor Gryffindors, favour the lucky Slytherins and try not to inhale toxic gases.

Have a nice day, favourite Potion's Master of mine, Harry.

He couldn't help but let out a snort of amusement, which alerted the Dark Lord to the paper and he inconspicuously passed it over, whereupon Voldemort gave a snort as well, handing it back.

At the same time Harry made an appointment with Madam Pomfrey during his lunch break after having assured her that it was nothing really bad and then left to finally have his breakfast.

"You forgot something", Draco's hand on his arm made him swivel around, "Don't expect me to run after you every morning. Here", he shoved the full plate in Harry's hands, "You'll eat that, no excuses."

"My, aren't we grumpy today", Harry teased him, pecking his cheek "See you later, Blondie."

"You're really annoying when you are in a good mood", Draco scoffed, but made sure that Harry knew, he was only joking, "I think in the future I'm going to avoid you."

"Oh, but you would miss me, wouldn't you?", Harry happily munched on his first roll, "I certainly would."

He turned around not waiting for an answer and plopped down in the seat next to Seamus since Neville was sitting at the Ravenclaw table with Luna.

"What was that, Harry", the Irish boy asked curiously, "Since when are Malfoy and you all chummy?"

"Since he's being nice to me", Harry shrugged, "We've spent most of the holidays together."

"Are you together?", Seamus demanded, "I thought Riddle was your lover."

"No, of course not, whatever gave you that idea? We're friends", Harry protested indignantly.

"Well, you kissed him", Dean butted in, "It didn't look all that platonic. And where did you stay the night?"

"On the cheek. I kissed him on the cheek", Harry argued, "I kissed Rudolphus and Rabastan and Tom, too. And I spent the night with the Lestranges."

Lavender spoke up: "That's it, you didn't treat your lover any different than your friends. And you kissed none of us."

"That is exactly the point of a secret affair", the black-haired boy growled in annoyance, "No-one is supposed to know of it. I can't go around and kiss my lover in front of the whole school and several Death Eaters. What do you think would happen if Voldemort ever found out that I cheated on him?"

"He wouldn't like it", the Dark Lord's rich voice supplied into the embarrassed silence, "Harry, come with me. You have to get changed before your first lesson."

"You so owe me for this", Harry growled once they were out of the Hall and everyone's hearing range, "I hate lying and now everyone thinks that I cheat on you."

"Is it my fault they come to false conclusions?", Tom replied impishly, before he forcefully tugged on Harry's arm and pressed him against the nearest wall ravishing his mouth thoroughly.

"Yes, it is!", Harry scowled once his lips were released.

"Oh, okay then", Voldemort smiled pleasedly, kissing his short husband once again, "You're so cute when you're angry."

"And you're insufferable when you think you're being funny", Harry frowned at the taller man, "Now, let me go."

"A bit bossy, are we, little one?", Tom said, but released the Gryffindor from his hold, "I'll promise I'll take all the blame okay, Harry?"

"You better do", the petite boy replied mostly pacified and chuckled lightly when Tom almost shyly took his hand, "Didn't you want to show me, how you redecorated your rooms?"

"No, I wanted to show you how I redecorated our rooms", Voldemort corrected, "Close your eyes", Harry did so obediently, grabbing Tom's hand a little tighter, "Okay", he manoeuvred Harry so that he stood in front of him, "Open them."

Harry blinked furiously, adjusting to the bright light from the many windows: "Wow."

"I'm glad you approve", the red-eyed man smirked, "Though if you want me to change something..."

"No, I like it", Harry turned around, "Much better than before."

"That's what I thought", Tom smirked, "Now let's get you dried up", he summoned a fluffy white towel from the bathroom and carefully started to ruffle the black hair with it, delighting in the small purr he received, "Go get changed. I'll pack your things", he gently pushed Harry towards their bedroom.

"Do you know what happened to Ron?", Harry asked curiously as Tom was walking him to the greenhouses, "He had a black eye and he really looked pale. So did Ginny and Hermione, when I think about it..."

Tom had to restrain himself from smirking triumphantly and rather evilly: "Oh, really? I didn't notice..."

"Tom...", Harry replied warningly, halting his steps, "What did you do?"

"I did nothing to your friends", Tom evaded, thinking that Harry would interpret his words wrongly- you hardly could call someone who insults you and makes you cry a friend.

He hadn't reckoned on Harry seeing right through his sentence: "Tom!"

"They shouldn't have attacked you yesterday on the train", Tom growled, "I won't let you be insulted by such pathetic little things."

"Did you hit Ron?", Harry asked incredulously.

"Of course not!", the red-eyed man protested, "My guess is that your other room mates tried to make him see their point- or maybe they just wanted to get rid of some stress."

"And what did you do, Tom?", Harry asked the third time with barely concealed anger.

"You know, Nagini felt a bit neglected", Tom smiled pleasedly, "I may have made a suggestion that she takes a certain route before going out hunting..."

"You let them be attacked by your snake?", Harry asked horrifiedly, "Please, tell me she didn't bite them."

"She didn't, Harry", Tom carefully pulled the resisting boy in his arms, "She only scared them a little and reinforced my point. There's no lasting damage- at least none that I caused."

"You will leave them be now."

"If they leave you alone, yes", Tom smiled appeasingly, "You have to stop seeing everything everyone throws as you as justified. They have no right to judge you and what they did called for punishment."

"I'm not like you."

"I know and I'm so glad about it", Tom cautiously pressed his lips to Harry's, drawing the small body closer to his own as he nibbled Harry's bottom lip, causing the younger man to mewled appreciatively, "I never want you to be like me, Harry."

"Then what do you want me to be?", Harry asked unsurely.

"I want you to be yourself. My sweet little Harry. My gorgeous husband, who tells me when I do something completely stupid", Tom kissed him again, before tugging him through the door out into the open.

I have cookies and I'm willing to share if you share your opinion with me... Hurry up, they're really yummy!