"Why the hell is he letting that half-breed get away with it?" Lestrange asked bitterly, Hadrian was a friend and he was furious that he was giving the oaf a free pass. After what he had done? Bringing in dangerous bloody creatures to Hogwarts - he had almost died and he could scarcely believe what Tom had told them although it had been reluctant he was very angry himself angrier than Lestrange had ever seen him and he had seen him in a lot of stages of anger over the years. They all had in fact, but last night they had been told and the magic that spat from Tom in his anger had been as terrifying as it was magnificent. He held so much power, and he was unafraid to use it, he was so charismatic he couldn't help but be drawn to him and his brilliance. Sleep hadn't come easy for any of them, as confused as they were; it wasn't exactly a Slytherin move to make.
"You heard who he blamed," Tom drawled from his seat in the common room beside the fire, finding himself amused at their confusion, it wasn't often they felt that way. He unlike the others held a suspicion that Hadrian knew Hagrid in the future and was going easy on him. He hadn't explicitly said anything, but that was Hadrian for you. He was at the top of the hierarchy so technically he could go after the sorry excuse for a wizard without suffering repercussions, the others wouldn't dare to in the face of Hadrian's wrath. He on the other hand was contemplating the idea on whether it was worth trying to get revenge on the oaf, Hadrian seemed to know him in a way he had yet to understand and know Hadrian in turn. So actually doing anything might not be a good idea, at least not yet, he had to gain Hadrian's complete trust first. So if he said he didn't touch him then he would believe him. Clearing his thought his lips twitched in devious amusement, their confusion morphed into awe plain a simple.
"Yeah, I think everyone heard," Carrow said in admiration. "I mean bloody hell, Dumbledore looked ready to pass out, Healer Chang had to give him a potion then he fled like the hounds of hell were on his back!" nothing, absolutely nothing would ever beat that sight.
"It was awesome!" Dorea insisted from the couch beside a silent Walburga who nodded her voice full of breathless amazement.
"Oh, Please, it isn't that difficult to wind a teacher up," Avery drawled unimpressed trying to imitate Tom, shaking his head in annoyance, all last night and this morning all he heard was how great, awesome, amazing, inspiring it was. He was sick of it, and wished they would start talking about something else already. He was tired of Hadrian Peverell, period.
"Wind?" Alphard Black snorted derisively, glaring at Avery from his conjured black chair from beside him. "He crushed the old fool, I don't know what he said but it destroyed him."
"Nobody's seen him since, he wasn't at breakfast and he's always at breakfast!" Mulciber insisted smugly. Unfortunately it wouldn't last forever; he would be back to normal soon regrettably.
"Neither was Hadrian, everyone noticed," Nott added his eyes shaded with worry. Slytherin's all stuck together, so they'd just made it seem like Hadrian was still recovering from the animal attack. In reality he had been up all night, nightmare after nightmare, although he hadn't admitted that but every few hours his magic would flare up in the dorm and he'd bolt upright in his bed. They hadn't heard anything due to the silencing charms but they'd seen and sensed it. It's probably what had Avery in such a foul mood.
"Did you see the looks the oaf was getting? All we need to do is sit back and watch," Rosier added joining in the conversation that seemed all Slytherin's were chipping in.
"What do you mean?" Tom demanded, glancing over at Rosier in question, silently insisting on an explanation and quickly.
Rosier wanted to start it with 'Are you kidding me?' but he thought better of it - quite rightfully so. "The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuff's like Hadrian, they're angry with the lack of punishment too, at least some of them, they'll get the payback for us. I might just point a few in the right direction." Rosier smirked in malicious glee. At least the older years, since it would take quite a bit of punch to hurt the damn half giant.
"Interesting," Tom muttered, a frown working onto his face, his worry for Hadrian was blinding him, and he hadn't noticed the dissension in the ranks so to speak. He could not let himself waver like that again, he could do both, would do both in future anything less was not tolerated. He should have noticed that the others weren't happy, and if he hadn't been up half the night and worried he would have. It was why he didn't do well with emotions, they hindered you, made you miss things, but he was Tom Riddle, he got what he wanted, when he wanted. He wanted Hadrian badly; he would just have to ensure to keep a good eye on his surroundings from here on in. As soon as Hadrian came down, he was going to the library, he had family to look up, and he wanted to know about Marvolo Gaunt, his so called grandfather his black eyes gleamed just thinking about him. He wanted to know if he was alive or not since Hadrian wasn't sure or as he had said (he was iffy with accurate information this far back).
"In fact most of the Ravenclaw's will be in the library before lunch, I'll head up then," Rosier insisted, before burying his head in his homework, he preferred to do his homework on Saturday so he could do whatever he wished on Sunday.
"No they wont, it's Saturday, they'll be completing their homework in their common room or Dorms," Hadrian informed Rosier flippantly, just like a great deal of the Slytherins were, and he should know, he was friends with a Ravenclaw. Although that Ravenclaw would probably call him 'best friend' not that he minded too much. He was just passed that stage, that and the last two best friends he'd had betrayed the hell out of him and back again. "Those that haven't got boyfriends or girlfriends at least." he rolled his eyes, bookworms they may be but they still went through puberty and became interested in the opposite sex. One could argue based on the feelings he kept getting when he looked at Tom that he hadn't gone through it last time he was this age.
"How are you feeling?" Walburga asked, truly concerned eyeing the wound on his neck barely withholding a wince at the sight.
Harry turned to the sound of the voice, noticing where she was looking and absently touching his neck, it was still delicate and extremely painful to touch. Between the pain, the nightmares and the fact he'd actually been attacked by a werewolf cub and let his anger get the better of him - you bet your ass he was feeling worried and apprehensive he had no idea what to expect from Dumbledore - he feared he'd poked a sleeping dragon. He wasn't scared of him per se, just worried due to the fact he had no idea what he would be dealing with. That equalled up to one hell of a bad nights sleep. "Er…I've had worse," Harry said dismissively, even if he wanted to say he hurt like hell - it wasn't a Slytherin move and no Slytherin would admit weakness. He was touched by her concern though, considering what she had turned into in his future…er…past, Merlin he hated tenses. It was the future but his past.
"Don't bother sitting down, we're leaving," Tom stated as Hadrian was about to sit, he stood up imperiously waiting for him.
"Why?" Harry queried curiously, rolling his eyes at the others, he didn't think he'd ever get used to the constant sharp intakes of breaths and looks just because he didn't bow to Tom's every word or demand. They'd done all their homework already, even if Tom disappeared for half the night after curfew every night. He knew where he was going obviously, but he refused to worry about it until there was something to actually be concerned about.
Tom just came forward and as he usually did started guiding Hadrian out of the common room, a hand on his back keeping him securely beside him. "Where are we going then?" Harry asked yawning half way through, he was still tired. He was unaware of the Slytherins shaking their head in amused disbelief, only Hadrian would dare to question Tom Riddle. Some were now more used it now than others.
Tom only answered Hadrian once he had closed the portrait firmly shut, "Library." he answered in his clipped tone.
"Alright," Harry shrugged, not really bothered where he went, but Tom didn't usually invite him or anyone actually when he went to the library (or chamber come to that). Even more odd was the fact Tom had brought him breakfast before joining the others downstairs in the common room. Of course he brushed it off saying he didn't want him missing classes so he had to 'keep up his strength' he liked the challenge apparently. Harry suspected it was more to do with the fact Tom didn't want him out of his sight. Considering what he was up to, it wasn't exactly a comforting thought but he hadn't heard anything through the pipes so again he refused to worry.
"I'm going to find out about my grandfather and whether he is alive," Tom confided, as they moved up the stairs, meeting only a few people as they passed due to the fact it was Saturday morning and everyone was either sleeping in, doing homework or just chilling out.
"I'm guessing not," Harry muttered quietly but Tom heard him and glared at him furiously.
"If you know something I suggest you tell me," Tom hissed as they stopped.
"Calm down," Harry grumbled, "The likelihood is pretty high, I said I don't know when he died that's true, but I know a year from now he's definitely gone." next summer to be precise, since that was when he confronted Morfin Gaunt, found out that his father really was a Muggle then went postal killed him his grandparents then framed Morfin, he would feel sorry for them but honestly? He didn't care. Maybe that made him a bad person, but they were supposed to die, its how it was, Harry frowned, was this part of his Master of Death feelings? Or was it just because Death had told him there was no saving them that he'd just built up a wall and decided that if they died and he managed to save everyone else it was fine? Or had he honestly been through enough shit that he really didn't care about a faceless person in the crowd? He couldn't exactly call Tom Riddle faceless; he knew what he looked like after all. An older version of the irritate teen in front of him. Oh he knew why he was annoyed; he thought Harry had held out on him.
No, it's because they deserved it, the way Morfin and Marvolo had treated Merope had been terrible and that was with what he had seen, what were they like behind closed doors? Probably worse, he hated abusers more than anything else in the world. He had every reason in the world to hate them; he'd been abused all his life. As for Tom Riddle Senior he had abandoned his own son, only the lowest of the low could do something like that.
Tom's anger abated a pensive look taking over from it; he almost wished he could Legilimency Hadrian and get all his information that way. He didn't dare, one he had shields, two he didn't know how strong they were, three he would never purposely hurt him. He didn't know why either, why Hadrian was so different that he wanted to cherish him, look out for him he'd never felt it before.
"Wait…but how is that possible?" Harry was muttering a look of realization filtering over his face, "He couldn't have been nobody lasts that long in Azkaban…that's just sick. There's something seriously wrong with the old fool." a disgusted look appearing.
Tom blinked at the rapid change, noticing someone was coming there way, he guided a shocked Hadrian into the library, giving the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor a pleasant smile that he in no way felt. He squared them away in the corner and cast a silencing spell over them so nobody could overhear them. He watched every expression on Hadrian's face curious about what had caused it. "What is going on?" this time it was a demand he wasn't able to curb.
"Marvolo Gaunt? Definitely dead, Morfin said he had been dead for years when the subject is brought up in a years time," Harry explained, Dumbledore had all those memories of Tom, now he had to have gotten it from Morfin and to have done that he had to have actually got the memory from the guy, met him and extracted the memory. There was no way Morfin lasted fifty or sixty years in Azkaban. That added to the fact a House-elf had been imprisoned (admittedly that was Tom's fault) when it had confessed to accidentally killing Smith by lacing her nightly drink with poison. A House-elf surely wouldn't have lasted that long in Azkaban either, it just wasn't possible. The only way the memories could have been collected was if Dumbledore had gotten them much earlier, like soon after they happened. Dumbledore had been spying on Tom after he left Hogwarts apparently, and for years, that was stalking and disgusting.
"Why do I get the feeling it was I who asked him?" Tom replied his tone cool and shrewd.
"Because it is," Harry answered honestly, he already suspected and suspecting something was as good as knowing he was right when it came to Tom's brilliant mind. He definitely had to stop him from opening the chamber that was probably the catalyst of Dumbledore being determined to 'prove' Tom was evil once and for all since he hadn't been able to prove he opened the chamber which really was idiotic how many others could open the chamber to begin with? Honestly Harry believed Dumbledore knew and just didn't care until the death toll turned too big to ignore, like he was doing right now with Gellert. Just wanted to be the hero and stamp down his own true belief's that the wizards should rule over Muggles.
"And who else was there?" more importantly who betrayed him? He certainly wouldn't have shown up with Dumbledore so he didn't understand.
"Nobody," Harry revealed he knew Tom would figure it out.
"Someone got the memory from Morfin Gaunt?" Tom guessed accurately.
Harry nodded, his mind still whirling with the information he'd just realized, all those years he had known and did nothing. Expecting him to kill him off on the say so of a bloody prophecy, well screw that, Dumbledore would rue the day he had decided to manipulate him. He was going to make his life hell starting now. Come hell or high water he would see him utterly destroyed loathed by the magical community and all his dreams shattered beyond repair.
"You're on Dumbledore's side," Tom concluded, utterly bewildered, he was as dark, his magic was dark, why the hell would he consort with Dumbledore? He acted like he hated him, more than him for Merlin's sake. Betrayal and raw fury began to brew within him, unable to believe he'd been duped. His wand began to vibrate as his magic flared as his anger mounted.
"Correction was on Dumbledore's side," Harry informed him grimly. Thank Merlin they were in a public setting - of sorts - otherwise with the way Tom looked right now he honestly didn't like to think whether he would have cursed him or not. "Name someone Muggle raised that doesn't to an extent revere him. It didn't help that my so called friends were in awe of him as well," Harry clenched his hands into fists, hissing through clenched teeth just thinking about it.
"I assume it was those same friends who hurt you before you came here?" Tom enquired, his magical display disappearing.
Harry chuckled bitterly, "Yes, Tom…I spent six years at Hogwarts being manipulated by everyone around me, I was incredibly naïve once upon a time hard as it may be to believe. I wasn't strong like you, I was beaten down and just so glad to be away from my so called family that I didn't question it the way I should have. Good things rarely happen to me, but coming back here…I would go through everything all over again just to ensure it happens despite some of it being nerve-wracking, the Muggle war and all, I'm happy, I have real friends and genuine respect from the others for something I'm doing. I'm living, not surviving. I'm not going to apologise for something I didn't really do or understand." especially not considering that Tom had been the one trying to kill him since he was in nappies. Then again, Dumbledore and his order of the chicken had been after him just as long after he defeated him. Wincing slightly, he touched at his throat, not only was it killing him but it was beginning to get sore the more he spoke.
His life had been one long continued bid for survival; this past year…it had been heaven to him.
"One day you will tell me everything, from start to finish," Tom vowed, giving him a deep penetrating look realizing that he wasn't ready to speak about the hardships he'd faced or able to if his hand on his wounds was anything to go by.
"Maybe one day," Harry agreed, "Right now I'm going to head to the lab and brew a decent potion, that's if Professor Slughorn isn't letting everyone else brew as well," he wasn't in the mood to talk to the members of the Slug Club today. He would bet next year Tom would be in as well, apparently he didn't just let any age in, only fifth year and up. "Unless you want to do the ritual first?" he wouldn't be saying anything the runes were done so the rest was up to Tom.
"I have the perfect place we can do both," Tom said coming to a decision, if Hadrian was working with Dumbledore then he would find out once and for all. There was one thing he was sure Hadrian didn't know about, the chamber of secrets, if Dumbledore suddenly started paying more attention to the girls bathroom then he would know Hadrian wasn't to be trusted.
"Alright," Harry said softly, wondering why Tom wasn't still in a huff, he hadn't exactly explained much; surely the suspicion was still there? Without a word Tom stood up, and Harry realized perhaps he was still in a mood. Sighing softly, perhaps he had screwed everything up before it even started. Damn it, he wished he'd never opened his damn mouth now.
It didn't take them long to get from the library to where they were going, which was down a set of stairs and onto the first floor. Tom looked around cautiously before sliding into the green door girl's bathroom, Harry's lips twitched, before he too entered the bathroom it hadn't changed much at all - much like the rest of the school. Tom was leaning casually against the wall, with a smug look plastered across his face.
Harry walked right over and hissed "Open!"
Tom huffed indignantly barely heard over the sound of the sink parting, he even knew about the chamber of secrets?! That defeated the entire concept of a secret chamber if everyone knew. Only Salazar Slytherin's descendants were supposed to be aware of this. Hadrian had already admitted that he wasn't directly Salazar's heir but in fact Godric Gryffindors. "You knew," Tom said silkily but resignedly. Did this mean he could actually trust him? He knew about the chamber but obviously hadn't told Dumbledore…at least he was assuming not.
"Took me a year to find it," Harry confessed a sly smirk on his face. "Although I'm not sure where I can brew here,"
"You didn't find the hidden room?" Tom relaxed against the wall at least he didn't know everything then.
"Is it the bit where the mouth opens?" Harry deduced he hadn't seen anything other than a sixty foot gigantic pain in the ass that nearly killed him coming at him.
"Yes," Tom replied, bemused by his description of his ancestor's secret chamber within its actual secret chamber.
"I know the password but never looked into it," Harry informed him, with that he jumped down the pipe, his wand out lighting up the area as Tom followed as always managing to look graceful even sliding down a bloody sewage pipe. Merlin was there anything he didn't look incredibly hot doing? Even angry he had an aura surrounding him that made him utterly indescribable. While when he was angry everyone just backed away terrified - yeah, he wasn't even the Dark Lord in the making, smooth.
Tom caught Hadrian staring at him appreciatively; it was the first real indication that Hadrian liked him back he'd seen so far. Never removing his eyes from the green orbs he wandered over, "Why don't you take a picture? It would last infinitely longer," watching in fascination to the point of arousal as Harry turned bright red, flushing beautifully under the light of his wand. This kind of reaction couldn't be faked, he was geniune. He didn't feel bad for doubting him, it was just who he was - and Hadrian had given him cause to doubt him.
"Shut up," Harry said embarrassedly as he tore his eyes away, refusing to meet Tom's.
Tom grasped Hadrian's chin and delicately (aware of his injuries) turned him back around, "Why don't you make me?" Tom found he loved teasing him and vowed to do it more often. Especially with the colours he was going, right at that moment he was tempted to believe there was no way this boy had ever been twenty-one years old before returning to the past, but he definitely hadn't been involved with anyone considering how easy it was to fluster him.
"I am not doing this here, the stench if awful and I need to get off the massive pile of fish bones before my shoes permanently stink." Harry protested the butterflies were crawling up his bloody chest, what was wrong with him? He wasn't really fifteen years old damn it, why was he so nervous? He had control of his emotions so why was it so difficult around Tom?
"Are you sure?" Tom enquired, close enough to breathe the air Hadrian exhaled, only when he visibly gulped did he back off seeing Hadrian's jaw drop before he turned completely smirking triumphantly as he walked over to the next door. Hissing himself this time to open it. Nobody knew about Hadrian's ability yet, they hadn't used it despite the fact they could have, the knowledge that Dumbledore knew had deterred that excitement completely. "Coming?" he asked over his shoulder as it opened.
Harry pursed his lips before grudgingly moving, why had he said he wasn't doing anything again? Oh yes, because he was an utter idiot. Looking back at the spot longingly before cursing himself again, he wasn't really fifteen years old, he wasn't really fifteen years old, and he wasn't really fifteen years old. Too bad he wasn't able to convince himself no matter how many times he thought it.
"If that basilisk eats me I'll haunt you forever, and I'll know exactly where you'll be so you can't outrun me!" Harry warned him.
"I have perfect control over her," Tom insisted seriously, obviously not in a joking mood, at least where it came to Hadrian's life apparently. "Just stay behind me, you'll be fine."