Disclaimer: This chapter was somewhat inspired/influenced with a song on Donnie Darko – "Mad World" of Roland Orzabel, lyrics provided as the introduction.

A/N: Now that I have a true idea of where this story goes and in what time, the chapters will be rolling out. And also, I'll then be able to go to Interference again. Wasn't the wait kind of worth it, then?

Chapter 15 - In A Mad World

"I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
These dreams in which I'm dying, are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very very... mad world."

Harry's first month had been beyound amazing - absolutely brilliant! Harry had friends - a social life. And best of all, he still had Marvolo. What seemed odd though, is that everyone knew who he was. They often asked to see his scar - even more odd - and asked whether it hurt. It didn't, but it made him wonder. He was settled in the man's room as he thought these things.

Harry had a lot to wonder about lately. It was because Marvolo had been called onto some sort of business with the other teachers, that left him with all this free time. His new friends Ron and Hermione were both busy with homework that he had already finished with Marvolo's help.

So Harry thought. And pondered. And wondered.

Harry thought about how lucky he was to have friends, how cool it was that Professor McGonagall could be a cat at will, and how Snape was very strange, how much he was "like his father (except for those eyes - those are your mother's)" - this had been told to him several times - but mostly... mostly he thought of Marvolo as his furry paws dug into the delicious velvet of afore mentioned man's bed.

Some many times he had been asked who Marvolo was to him. It seemed to be so easy to say "father" but it wasn't exactly true. Harry's true father was dead and, besides, Marvolo was much more. "Best Friends" was a title that seemed more appropriate for Ron and Hermione... so what was he then? Was there even a word to describe it? Perhaps he could make up one...?

And then there was something else that bothered him - Marvolo's memories. Harry knew they stopped looking for them for some reason or another, but he kept having a feeling that one (even multiple) were nearby, that be should have found them for him. Well, perhaps he could -

Thud

A heavy book slammed onto Marvolo's large desk. Harry glanced up and smiled pleasantly. "Hello," Harry greeted. The man's head shot up, throwing a mass of black strands off of his sweaty neck. His eyes moved from maniacal to pure shock.

"H-Harry, your hands!" Severus Snape stuttered. Harry's gaze moved in direction of the other's and saw that one hand was a paw, as were his feet. The concealing charm had fallen off. He hadn't even noticed! Harry flushed and scrambled to hide his body under the warm blankets underneath him. "Gods... when did this happen?"

"I -"

"It's only a potions incident, Severus," Marvolo said quickly as he just entered. "And not of any concern." He briskly moved to Harry. "Love, did the chain break?"

Harry nodded, then stretched his neck for a greeting. Marvolo kissed him without hesitation and moved to find the charm. "Well, bugger, Harry! But imagine for it had fallen off during class - now that would have been quite the dilemma." Harry smiled at the thought. It was, of course, amusing because it hadn't happened.

"T-This is hardly a minor -" Snape cut in. "Have you taken him to St. Mungo's?"

"Doesn't need it, He likes the ears," Marvolo replied, tickling behind Harry's second set. The boy let out a giggle. "By the way, Severus, what are you doing here?"

Snape sighed. "There's a matter I wish to speak with you about."

"Out with it."

"It is most urgent."

"Then go on..." Marvolo's fingertips tortured the ticklish underside of Harry's chin.

"Concerning," Snape continued through gritted teeth, "the... matter of the, er, lemon drug."

Marvolo nodded to indicate he understood the code word being used. "You don't know how you're going to protect the, er, 'lemon drop', eh?"

"No, that's not..." Snape stepped across the room and covered Harry's ears, then speaking quickly. "I need your assistance in retrieving the stone for purpose of study."

Marvolo's eyebrow lifted a bit. "Well... why ever would you...Merlin! You think it's going to help resurrect her, don't you? You can't be serious! You're, in fact, mad! Even I know it's impossible to fight -"

Harry struggled under Snape's rough hands and clasped his arms around Marvolo's waist. Regardless the he could hear the conversation now, Snape continued.

"You were once a brilliant wizard."

"He still is!" Harry cut in furiously, snuggling against the man's chest.

"You fought death, my lord, and you stand here today. My lord there are no limits - merely only discoveries and -"

Marvolo embraced Harry's small shoulders, covering his ears once more in a more subtle manner. "I value my soul enough to stay within those limits - as should yourself." He sighed heavily. "Good night, Severus."

Snape took his cue to leave. After a few more moments of silence, Harry wiggled in Marvolo's arms.

"Another kiss?" Marvolo pretended to sigh. "What am I doing to do with you?"

Harry just smiled.

Marvolo lived in a haze - he knew this much. There was much he couldn't reflect to, and often he tripped on his words, lost his sentence. He had to smile, had to write it off to a humorous tone - no matter how much he tensed up, began to sweat - how afraid he was to be forgetting things he should know.

The borderline he was in was a safe cloud that kept him from knowing - truly knowing. The haze was comfort, but sometimes it felt to be clearing, his most lucid thoughts were his most dark. At times, the only thing that kept him sane - it seemed - was his young boy, his Harry, sleeping now beside him.

Soft and pure and innocent, Marvolo swept Harry's bangs back from his sweet face and kissed his warm, rosy cheeks. He didn't dare fall asleep now though, not when the fog felt so dangerously clear. He only shut his mind, smoothed the boy's hair down... and waited.

And in the morning, he prayed to have fallen back into his own naive state.

-To Be Continued-