Hermione, or rather the person who appeared as her, stepped into the break room, tea in hand. Harry looked up at her, smiling halfheartedly. He didn't feel well for some reason. Strange dots kept flashing behind his eyes, and his stomach wouldn't settle. Hermione, or rather Mythas Lester, set the tea down in Harry's hands, "This will help calm your stomach."

Harry downed it gratefully, unknowingly consuming more of Lester's Dark potion. "Thanks Herm, I don't know what I'd do without you. I think I'm going mental, I keep seeing things."

Hermione smiled, "You're probably just coming down with something."

"Maybe Draco's poisoning me," Harry laughed humorlessly, "wouldn't put it past that git."

"Draco?" Mythas as Hermione pretended to be surprise, although his suspicions had just been confirmed. He knew Potter had contacted the Malfoy heir.

"Oh yes I was going to tell you but Gin was there," his face reddened, "I'm banging Malfoy."

"You're what?"

"Draco and I are... experimenting with each other," Harry looked down at his feet, blushing.

"Oh," inwardly, Mythas grimed with triumph at discovering this, outwardly he put on an expression of surprise on Hermione's face. "So Tom Riddle is really..."

"Malfoy. I didn't mean to call him that but it's rather fitting for how much of an arse he is."

Hermione smiled, patting his knee. "How did you find him?"

Harry sighed, "Chance really. As you know I live in the Muggle part of town and I was walking home from after a night walk and felt someone use magic. Turns out it was Draco. He looked horrid, his hair all choppy and he was gross, but I got him cleaned up and now... now I can't stop looking at him."

Harry sighed, closing his eyes and picturing the blonde's face. He smiled despite of himself before something lurched in his stomach. His eyes snapped open and the room became enveloped in a smoky darkness. The small couches and tables of the break room became devoid of color and life, somewhere on a grey scale that slowly became darker and darker. "What the..." Harry turned to Hermione but no one was there. He was alone.

He didn't see Hermione leave the room, walking steadily to an office with the name "Auror M. Lester" marked on the door. And he didn't see "Hermione" shift back into Mythas, who quickly slipped out of the woman's robes and back into his own. His eyes landed on the small broom closet where the real Hermione lay asleep. He smiled a shark like grin, pulling out his wand and opening the door. He gazed down at the sleeping witch, pointing his wand right at her before whispering, "Imperio."

-_-_-_-

Harry flipped through his Auror training guide, hoping to find an answer for the odd sensation he experienced. He glanced up at the clock, cursing under his breath. He'd spend far too long searching through his Ministry issues books, looking for any sort of clue about the Dark creeping inside his chest. Draco could have left already. Something inside him twitched at the thought and he jumped to his feet. If Draco dared to leave without Harry again...

Harry slammed his manual down, growling to himself. Ever since his talk with Hermione, he'd been in a bad mood. He didn't exactly know why, but he couldn't shake the dark energy rising from the pit of his stomach. His Auror guide had nothing on any of it. Nothing on Dark magic other than it's bad and how "the Great Harry Potter" had defeated You-Know-Who.

Draco might have answers. Draco was a Dark Wizard, he'd know exactly the strange energy that Harry had been exposed to. And then how to get rid of it. Harry lifted his wand to Apparte to the park he knew Draco had gone to despite Harry telling him not to. But even then, some small part of him began to whisper in his ear, asking him why he'd want to get rid of this newfound power. That this strange energy beginning to course through his veins could change his world, make it better.

Stumbling through the sparse trees, world blurry, Harry spotted Draco sitting with the old lady – Fiona – playing chess. He growled, charging right up to him. "What do you think you're doing?" Harry barked, trying to calm himself down which only made his fury roar more.

"Uh, playing chess. Obviously," Draco sneered, only making Harry more angry.

"You're not allowed to do this you prat!"

"Last time I checked you weren't the boss of me," Draco smirked than leaned closer to Harry, "last time I checked you wanted me to boss you."

Harry growled, yanking Draco to his feet. "SHUT UP!"

Draco snorted, "What got your knickers in a twist?"

He didn't notice it at first, but Draco did. The blonde yanked himself away from Harry, eyes wide. "What the hell?"

Harry looked down to his hands, watching the dark smoke emanating from his wand. When had he pulled his wand out? Harry dropped his wand, dashing away. "What is that!" he hissed at Draco, trying to ignore all the Muggles around him.

The old lady looked shocked, but Harry ignored her. He knew the Ministry had already discovered the presence of Dark Magic. But how could Harry be the source of that magic? It couldn't...Harry stepped back, he believed in Light, right? The Ministry would never...His brain seemed to shut down and Harry's eyes darted about, watching Draco's horrified expression, the strange wind in the trees. He finally focused on a spot a short distance away, he could sense magic rippling through the air and pop! A wizard in dark robes appeared out of nowhere, turning towards him.

Mythas Lester began walking forward, hands on his hips. Harry watched his eyes drift to Draco. He could've sworn Lester smiled. But then he marched straight toward Harry. "Do I have to remind you," he said briskly, "that the Ministry does not allow wizards to use magic in muggle neighborhoods. The Ministry also does not condone the use of any Dark spells, which you have appeared to have used. The Ministry, Potter, has baned the use of all Dark curses, hexes, jinxs, et cetra, which you should know..."

He kept talking but Harry's mind went blank. All he could hear was the Ministry's rules. Rule after rule after rule. Each more restricting than the last. Why? Because of one Dark wizard?

Suddenly Draco had a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Harry whispered, glaring at Lester.

Mythas grinned darkly at them. "Hello Mr. Riddle."

"Hi," Draco suddenly sounded very quiet.

Lester peered at Draco for a moment before turning back to Harry. "Come back with me to the Ministry, we have an investigation to do and I'm sure you need to have a chat with the Muggle Studies unit."