average human’s Reviews > Lord of Time > Status Update

"If anyone hurts him, they'll answer to me," Harry told him, but he couldn't help but wonder…would this truly move Tom to seeking another way to make him pay? What if he was making things worse by doing this? He hated not knowing, it was doing his head in.

"Why?" Tom demanded furiously.

"It's not his fault the damn teachers aren't doing anything about it," Harry hissed, "It's all down to Dumbledore as usual."

Tom blinked immediately confused, "You've been unconscious why and how would you know anything about the giant oafs punishment?" or lack of one, if you believe Hadrian.

Harry huffed in bitter amusement, "Do you seriously think Dumbledore would punish any of his sainted Gryffindors? No matter how bad the transgression is? The rest of the teachers probably bow to his every word." he was becoming more and more Slytherin he realized, sainted Gryffindors? Yes, he was going Slytherin, and guess what? He didn't give a crap because for the first time in his life he was living by his own rules.

"Professor Slughorn wouldn't stand for that," Tom waved the concern away not truly believing that a student could get away with almost killing another without some sort of punishment.

"You are aware that they're good friends aren't you?" Harry informed him sounding amused. "They started working at Hogwarts the same year."

"You seem to know a lot about everything, especially the past," Tom commented, leaving unsaid 'especially for someone from the future'.

"Yeah, well, it was needed," Harry replied honestly.

"Yes, but why?" Tom enquired, not even twitching when food appeared at the bottom of Hadrian's bed.

"Honestly? I don't think you want to know." Harry answered.

Tom was just about to open his mouth to demand an answer from him when the door opened and Slughorn entered. He looked relieved to see Hadrian awake, as he wandered over. "Hadrian, my boy, I'm glad you're awake, how are you feeling?"

"I'll be fine," Harry said giving him a smile, "Although I was wondering if I could use one of the labs to brew a potion?"

"Well you have my permission, Hadrian just as long as I know you're a hundred percent healthy," Slughorn replied unusually serious for their Slytherin head of house.

"Thanks, professor," Harry said sincerely.

"You're most welcome, unfortunately I didn't come just to ask how you were, a decision needs to be made regarding the creature that bit you, and since it hurt you and you are emancipated it is solely your decision what happens to it." Slughorn informed him gently as if he was afraid of scaring Hadrian.

"It's still alive?" Harry asked surprised, the amount of magic he'd flung into it he was genuinely amazed it had survived.

"Yes," Slughorn replied nervously.

Harry zeroed in on that tick immediately, the teacher wasn't good at hiding his nerves especially when interrogated or asked questions that make him uncomfortable. "And what exactly does everyone wish to do with it?" as rumour went, a pack was supposed to live in the forbidden forest at the kindly permission of 'Albus Dumbledore' which if it was true meant it happened once Dumbledore became Headmaster so they couldn't wish to put it there surely?

"There are two options, send it back to its pack in the Forest of Dean or put it to sleep," Slughorn relaxed at this line of questioning.

"Forest of Dean? How the hell would he have gotten it from the Forest of Dean?" and away from the pack at that.

"He lives nearby," Slughorn confessed.

Well that information was new, he'd never really thought on where the hell Hagrid lived. "He took a cub away from its family?" Harry gritted his teeth at the stupidity of it.

"Yes," Slughorn said a scowl of his own appearing very briefly.

"Send it back," Harry said shrugging his shoulders, he knew the werewolf cubs didn't normally go for humans, it avoided them, so why it had decided to lash out was anyone's guess…perhaps fear? Being around so many humans locked up relying on a bloody giant to feed it and probably not getting the nutrients it needs.

Tom silently seethed, Hadrian was far too lenient on that damn creature, and he should kill it and be done with it. He hadn't slept too well since that incident, things did NOT get to him so he loathed the fact that this was. "What is being done about Hagrid, Professor?" Tom asked his head of house, none of his anger showing - as usual.

"Ah, yes, well," Slughorn said, clearing his throat, "He will receive detention, for a fortnight."

Harry gave a bitter chuckle, "Let me guess, Professor Dumbledore?" his anger suddenly mounting, he was so goddamned sick of Dumbledore and his leniency; he shouldn't be around anyone, never mind children.

Slughorn blinked in surprise, "Well, yes," he answered. "I did press for a harsher punishment," he felt the need to tell him.

Harry's face went stony, this couldn't continue, Dumbledore couldn't just let the Gryffindors off with whatever they wanted. Even as a Headmaster he had done the same thing, it would spiral out of control and make the prejudice between both houses so much worse. Here and now it was mostly Muggle-born Vs Pureblood other than all out hatred against Gryffindors etc… in his own time both problems were ten times magnified. Something had to be done now, he knew what would happen if it continued. Without further ado Harry stood up ignoring both his teacher and Tom before making a break for the door magic pouring off him temporarily with his short slip in temper.

Tom watched him go before he lurched from the seat, abandoning the book as he tried to catch up with Hadrian. The last time he'd seen him in a mood like that he'd levitated Avery for Merlin's sake, he didn't even want to imagine what he might do to Dumbledore. He knew Hadrian absolutely hated Dumbledore, he suspected even more than him, and that was saying something. Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to do anything to the deputy headmaster where everyone could see him and when the man himself knew it was Hadrian?

He cursed when the length of the corridor leading to the great hall was deserted, he must already be in there. He ran faster, hoping he was overreacting and Hadrian was just going for breakfast or to let off some steam somewhere else…maybe the common room? Yet he knew his thoughts to be untrue, especially with the way Hadrian had left, he was after Dumbledore.

He slowed his pace down as he skidded to a halt outside the Great Hall, and slid into the room, unsurprised to find Hadrian there.

"Tell me, Dumbledore, if it had been any other student other than your precious Gryffindor would you have made sure the punishment was so lenient? Two weeks detention! TWO WEEKS DETENTION for almost being killed?" Hadrian hissed in his teachers face. "Or is your problem the fact that I am in Slytherin and you hate our guts?"

"Mr. Peverell, do not make this situation any worse," Dumbledore warned standing up at full height trying to intimidate him into silence.

"OR what? Apparently I can go around almost murdering students and receiving only two weeks detention!" Harry snapped out.

"Twenty-five points from Slytherin, Mr. Peverell for disrespect." Dumbledore cautioned.

Harry laughed bitterly, "So my disrespect is worth twenty-five lost points but almost dying I see isn't even worth a single lost point from Gryffindor? You're supposed to be teachers, a student almost died in your care and…that's all its worth? Two weeks detention and I'll bet my vaults that they're with Dumbledore a man who is evidently known for his favouring his own house!"

The Slytherin's watched wide eyed, they'd never seen anyone speaking to Dumbledore that way in their entire years at Hogwarts.

"Mr. Peverell, stand down," Albus warned.

"You shouldn't be allowed anywhere near children!" Harry spat, fighting against the arms that wrapped around him as he continued his diatribe. "You shouldn't be a teacher! Look at what happens to them when you're around! They get away with murder, or almost commit it and you just let them off! Ariana's death should have drove that home you-" Tom silenced Hadrian and wrestled him out of the Great Hall, but not before seeing Dumbledore swaying dangerously looking as though he was about to pass out in shock, terror and fear. Who the hell was Ariana? And more importantly what had happened to her?

"Calm down," Tom ordered, using that tone of voice on him for the first time, but Hadrian was beyond listening, slamming them up against the wall, the fire in Hadrian caused desire to lick down his spine, the defiance, the fact he could cause Dumbledore untold damage, his magic, everything just overwhelmed him about the teen and before he knew it he slammed his lips against Hadrian's and possessively kissed him, which ceased Hadrian's struggles. "Mine." Tom declared tightening his hold as if suspecting he would run.

Harry just stared his green eyes impossibly wide utterly stunned.

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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."

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Rest in Peace Alan Rickman :( This poem is from Fixing Past Mistakes but it seems appropriate to put it up.



"There are no words ...what can I say?

At last his sweet soul winged its way

To peace and freedom in the sky

Where never again will he suffer or cry.

It's all part of Merlin's great plan ...

Which remains a mystery to man.

We cannot understand His ways

Nor can we count our earthly days.

But who are we to question and doubt?

Merlin knows well what He's about;

He knew he longed to "go to sleep"

Where only angels, a vigil keep.

The pain of living grew too great

No longer could he stay and wait;

He did not want to leave you, dear,

But he had finished his work down here.

So he closed his eyes and when he awoke,

These are the words the Master spoke ...

"Welcome, dear child, you are Home at last,

And now the burden of living is past.

There's work for you in My Kingdom,

And you are needed and wanted here."

So weep not, he has just gone on ahead,

Don't think of him as being dead.

He's out of sight for a little while,

And you'll miss his touch and his little smile,

But you know he is safe in the home above

Where there is nothing but Peace and Love.

And, surely, you would not deny him peace ...

And you're glad that he has found release.

Think of him there as a soul that is free,

And Home at last, where he wanted to be."

Chapter End Notes

A small bout of insecurity from Tom but things bounced back pretty quickly i'm not sure to have it a regular thing or if maybe have Tom observe something that convinces him once and for all that Harry is truly on his side? what do you think? R&R please

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Meanwhile down in the common room...

"Druella, will you do the honour of accompanying me to the Yule ball?" Rabastan asked the female Rosier formally.

"I accept," Druella replied, giving him a very wide toothy smile, like all females excitement thrummed through her she couldn't wait to pick a dress for the occasion, she must write to her mother at once.

"Brilliant," Rabastan said, formalities out of the way, with that he wandered back over, they would discuss times closer to the day naturally.

"What are you doing?" Aiden hissed, "We're not to take anyone,"

"What gave you that impression, Avery?" Mulciber asked, a frown appearing on his face, everyone took a date well almost everyone, and it was just one of the rites of passages especially for the first ball.

Avery turned to stare at Mulciber in confusion, how could he have been the only on to see it? Had they not been paying attention, "Tom doesn't want us to have partners for the Yule ball." he told him slowly, disbelief written across his face, they honestly hadn't been paying any attention.

"He told you that?" Rabastan seemed more amused now than concerned, he ha a good idea why Aiden was saying what he was.

"Well, no, but he's made it pretty clear," Avery stated surely.

"Pretty clear how?" Mulciber demanded an explanation, judging by how relaxed Rabastan seemed Avery was probably blowing whatever he'd seen or heard out of proportion - he hoped.

"He glared everyone who brought up the Yule ball and worse when they worked up to asking," Avery replied, shaking his head, were their heads buried in the sand?

"And who were they asking?" Rabastan hid a smirk behind his hand, bloody hell how obvious could Avery be? He was acting like a clueless eleven year old virgin for Merlin's sake.

"Ah!" Mulciber caught on, relaxing into his seat, sighing in relief, well at least he wouldn't have to retract his invitation to Gaylene Lestrange, Rabastan's cousin, who he was very protective of he'd had to promise not to do 'any funny business' oath wise before he got permission - not that he'd asked for it.

"What, ah?" Avery's eyes snapped to Mulciber perplexed, was he missing something?

"Answer the question, who was being asked every time Tom glared?" Rabastan asked, glancing briefly at the stairs, straining his hearing just to make sure nobody was coming down to the common room. Judging by the look on Tom's face nobody was going to be coming down those stairs from their Dorm room any time soon.

"Um…I only really noticed it when it was Hadrian I think," Avery admitted thoughtfully.

"Exactly, and what did he tell us at the start of the year just a few months ago?" Rabastan couldn't believe he had to spell it out for him.

"The usual," Avery replied immediately.

"To keep our hands of Hadrian, quite literally, keep our hands off, he didn't mean fighting - he can take care of himself, Tom especially knows that." Rabastan continued on. "He doesn't want anyone taking Hadrian to the ball."

"Except him," Mulciber added with a chuckle.

"You what?" Avery rasped out gaping at his friends, stunned to the core. "You're kidding!" there was no way Tom would prefer Hadrian over everyone else here surely? Yes he was powerful but come on? He'd only been around a year, the rest of them were just as smart what made him so damn special?

"I can't believe you've not noticed," Mulciber shook his head. "Where's you're mind been these past few months?"

Carrow just smirked, he'd long ago gotten over his distaste for Hadrian, in fact when his ire wasn't aimed at you he was actually really funny, his sarcasm knew no bounds. Unfortunately Avery just got angrier and angrier, he was treading on very thin ice when it came to Tom and if he didn't stop he'd know all about it. Tom wasn't exactly the most patient of people that was putting it lightly really; if he didn't stop he would find himself looking in on them from the outside. He was quite honestly surprised it hadn't happened when he'd been stupid enough to cast both a disarming charm at an unarmed opponent then a torture curse using his wand of all things. "I guess you best be quick about getting a date," he commented wryly.

Avery groaned piteously at that realisation. "Oh Merlin!"

"I think he's got it," Carrow threw at Rabastan.

"You think?" Rabastan laughed stretching out on the couch languidly.

Chapter End Notes

As you know I don't normally do underage anything...but the story is advancing and there's not much I can do to hold it back :P I suppose there's plenty they can do that isn't going the full way :P as long as you're not apposed to that idea anyway :D I didn't get the opportunity to put the Gringotts thing in either, I'll have to wait until a perfect opportunity arises, not that it will be a long flashback, but Harry gaining his inheritance etc... I can see the Goblins helping Tom set the Slytherin vaults back to normal when the skin but would they truly make him heir when one was still alive? even if its just a useless one do you think they're capable of it? R&R