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

It hadn't been a step by step instructions, just more of a boasting about what they'd done as teenagers during the Christmas at Grimmauld Place. If his father, godfather and Remus could make it as teenagers surely he could too? He had more experience than they had when they made it.

Grunting in shock when he was grabbed around the middle, he forced himself to keep silent, and realized moments later why. When he'd been deep in thought he'd completely forgotten about the stairs. Tom had just saved him from falling down an entire flight of stairs, how he'd realized that he was distracted was anyone's guess, he had a damn invisibility cloak over his head after all. "Thanks," he muttered breathlessly, "Why and how?" wondering when Tom was going to let him go, he was pressed between him and the stair post and not lightly either.

"You get really quiet when your deep in thought, that and your feet were scuffing another sign," Tom whispered, and he was glad he had caught the signs and him in time.

"Makes me wonder…what exactly is there to be curious about when it comes to me?" Hadrian said breathlessly, it was just recently that the Slytherin's, more specifically Carrow told him everyone had been curious and still were since the moment he'd Apparated into Hogsmeade.

"Everything," Tom said possessively, and he wouldn't rest until he knew every little thing, thought, fear that Hadrian carried with him. Now that the danger was over, he reluctantly moved back a little.

"How come you aren't even slightly tired? We've not had sleep for over twenty four hours now," Hadrian asked, his voice sounding amused. Then all that was heard was light footsteps, each other could hear them, but the portraits remained blessedly asleep, snoozing in their frames. Whether they actually slept or not was anyone's guess, the portraits didn't give away all their secrets after all.

"I just have more decorum than to display it," Tom said haughtily.

Hadrian laughed quietly, having to muffle it, "You've taken a Pepper-Up potion haven't you?" he guessed still chortling.

"Perhaps," Tom replied, not actually admitting to it and curiously enough not denying it either.

"That's definitely a yes," Hadrian replied, "And it was absolutely a great idea." he was going to be asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. Thankfully they wouldn't need to get up early, they still had a few days holiday before being forced to return to classes again. He wasn't looking forward to the tediously numb classes, although he had to admit he did enjoy a fair few, and those were all ones he had not taken or could not take in the past, his past.

Tom merely chuckled at him as they effortlessly got back on the ground floor and headed straight for the common room. They didn't see a single ghost, House-elf or professor the entire way, the school was in darkness and silence. Barely whispering the password, they stepped inside, grimacing at the smell wafting towards them, the smell of sick, there were bottles strewn all over the floor, the smell of alcohol made it a safe bet that there was also spills all over the place.

Hadrian removed his cloak and flicked out his wand and cast a weak "Lumos!" just so they could actually see a few feet ahead of them to get safety to the stairs. The pair of them stepped over anything that wasn't the stone floor, bottles, cups and spills. You would think they'd be safe reaching the stairs, they were wrong, they had to go on their tip toes to get up them without standing in anything and the smell? It almost made them retch up their own food. "The dorm better not be a mess," he cursed, as he finally made it outside his own dorm after stepping over a drunken idiot who had obviously NOT been able to get back to their dorm and fell asleep where they were.

Opening the door he sighed in relief when he wasn't met with more repugnant odours. "Nox," the sight of his bed was very welcoming, he'd barely taken a few feet towards it when he was prevented by Tom's hand around his wrist, urging him towards his bed. Rolling his eyes, he just shrugged and toed off his shoes and shoved his invisibility cloak and his every day cloak under the bed, then took his trousers and socks off before sliding under the warm covers, as predicted the lack of sleep caught up on him as soon as his head hit the pillow, the last thing he felt was Tom's arms wrapping around him and pulling him close before he was out for the count.

Chapter End Notes

Anyone having trouble with this story with the huge bomb dropped by JKR and the others with the cursed child? Don't worry no spoilers but bloody hell! I did not see that coming a mile away! Thankfully i'll get my groove back pretty quickly and hopefully this will be the only chapter thats a little lacking something i just dont know what...or why either maybe it was the fact i was babysitting and didnt get to sit and type it all at once or the book maybe a combination :D R&R please

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Lestrange grunted in annoyance and agreement, he couldn't go to class without it, and he wasn't going to ask anyone to help, he wanted to go an entire year without owing someone a debt to collect later. It wasn't just small things anymore; they were becoming more unreasonable and bothersome as they got older. He'd usually ask Avery…unfortunately he couldn't do that not without commit social suicide. He missed him, he'd grown up with him after all, but his actions were inexcusable. He was lucky he hadn't been bloody killed, a poisonous snake of all things, he just wished Avery had spoken to him so he could have talked him out of it or something.

"Where's Tom?" Dolohov asked, glancing at Hadrian waiting for a reply expectantly.

"He's coming," Hadrian replied he'd literally just jumped out of bed got dressed and came down; Tom was probably just out the shower. He wasn't exactly vain about his looks but he did use it to get what he wanted, that and he always kept up an impeccable appearance he acted more 'pureblood' than the actual pureblood's did. The first thing he'd done with money was buy clothes that would make even the pureblood's sit up and take notice as if his powers didn't do that for him already. They'd never slept in quite so badly before, he nor Tom had ever actually missed breakfast. While Tom had never been starved, there was never quite enough food to go around especially after the war had begun.

The warning bell chose that exact moment to go off.

Cursing he stood up, swung his bag over his back and quickly nabbed a couple of napkins and filled pieces of toast with bacon, harsh browns, egg, black pudding and sausages for Tom. The others stood up automatically and followed him, much to Hadrian's confused amusement, and he wasn't Tom why would they act like he was? He smirked a little and sped up, they did too automatically he really had to suppress a laugh.

It didn't take them long to reach the DADA class, the classroom door was open but the teacher wasn't anywhere to be seen. Hadrian walked in and took his seat at the back of the classroom, noticing a cupboard at the front of the stairs to the teacher's office, the others sat in the two rows of seats in front of him. The majority of Slytherin's trickled in and sat down before even a single Gryffindor made an appearance. Charles Potter was one of them, apart from his green eyes it was scary how much he had looked like him, he would go so far as to say he looked more like his grandfather than he had his dad.

Tom made his appearance directly after him, annoyed at Hadrian's attention being on someone else, a Gryffindor of all things, but the jealousy wasn't there, of course it wasn't, and he knew the wizard was Hadrian's grandfather. He slid into the inside seat, setting his bag on the floor beside him everyone aware of him and his power.

"Here," Hadrian said, passing over the two napkins wrapped breakfast filled toast. It went without saying that he had better be quick in eating it, if Merrythought caught him she'd deduct points…or maybe not given that it was Tom, he could charm any teacher into getting what he wanted, with one exception - Dumbledore.

"Thanks," Tom murmured gratefully, glancing up to make sure the professor wasn't there and began to eat. If it had been anyone else to hand it to him he wouldn't have said a word.

Sudden thumping had the Gryffindors jumping in fright and startling the Slytherins. "What the bloody hell was that?" one of the students cried out.

"Well…this is going to be an interesting class," Hadrian said staring at the cupboard that once again thumped, it didn't startle anyone this time.

"What is in there?!" another student asked a little worriedly.

"A Boggart," Hadrian commented.

"A Boggart?" squeaked one of the Gryffindors eyes wide.

"I've heard of those, they're amortal shape-shifting non-beings that take the shape of whatever we fear the most." Charles Potter said, staring at the cupboard curiously. "Nobody knows what they look like, since as soon as it comes out it transforms into the shape we fear the most."

"Very well done, Mr. Potter, ten points to Gryffindor!" Merrythought exclaimed as she entered the classroom. "Can anyone else tell me anything about them?" seeing hands raise, she pointed to Tom, "Yes, Tom?"

"The spell to counter their attack is 'Riddikulus', professor, but one must think of something funny or amusing to transform it into," Tom said smoothly. His hands swiping at his clothes to ensure all crumbs were gone, the napkins in his pocket already.

"Ten points to Slytherin, yes, Riddikulus is the only known way to counter a Boggart attack," Merrythought said, standing in front of her desk. She noticed that Hadrian Peverell had his hand up, so she called on him too, wondering what he could add. "Yes, Mr. Peverell?"

"They're sentient to a certain degree," Hadrian informed her.

"I am afraid that it is incorrect, Mr. Peverell," Merrythought replied, "But it certainly is something worth thinking about."

Hadrian just hummed, sitting back, he wasn't about to argue with the teacher, ignoring the sniggering, or the muttered words of him being 'stupid' coming from the Gryffindors, he knew they were from personal experience. They didn't just take on the form of something that scares you; it can literally make you feel the same thing too. Like the Dementor his Boggart had transformed into, he had felt its affects as if had been the real thing, admittedly not quite so fully but enough. He'd even heard of a Boggart transforming into a Banshee, and their scream had affected the classroom causing DADA to be cancelled and the students taken to Madam Pomfrey. He ignored the looks the others were giving him, he knew what they were thinking, wondering if he was just guessing or if he was actually right - and they had to admit that Hadrian was never wrong. He doubted the Dementor was still the thing he feared the most, and wondered what it was his Boggart would turn into now.

"Now stand up in a single row on the left side of the room! Nice and carefully you'll all get a turn!" Merrythought admonished them, levitating the desks to the other side of the room before bringing the cupboard closer, so it wasn't stuck in a corner and she could help if they needed it. The banging got intensely louder as if it sensed everybody's fear from the other side of the door. "Wands out!"

Hadrian leaned against the wall coolly, he had done this once, and there was nothing exciting about it to him. Tom was in front of him; they removed their wands, and began to utter the spell when they were asked to. Hadrian cocked his head to the side, watching the others step forward one at time to face their fears. Mummies wrapped in bandages, large spiders, snakes, rats, Thestrals, quite a few had what was probably their parents, judging by the resemblance saying they were failures and not worthy of being the heir, Avery saw his own dead body with a puncture wound to his neck, which was most definitely supposed to be a snake bite. Others had people Hadrian didn't recognize appearing, dead.

The row was starting to thin down, and the teacher had only had to intervene once so far, Lestrange stepped forward confidently, wand raised waiting, and he didn't have to wait long. A large hissing basilisk appeared, and it definitely wasn't hissing in snake language, because neither he nor Tom could understand a word it hissed. "Riddikulus!" Lestrange rasped out, shuddering, not quite looking at the snake for fear of it killing or petrifying him. The snake turned into a harmless dog, which yapped playfully causing everyone to laugh and coo over it.

Carrow went next; facing his father telling him he was a failure, "Riddikulus," Amycus cast and his father was gone replaced by a clown. Hadrian definitely wanted to know where he had seen a clown, that was definitely a Muggle thing…at least he assumed so; he'd never seen a clown in the magical world.

"Interesting," Hadrian muttered quietly, Tom's lips twitched, giving a nod, he was thinking the same thing.

Dolohov stepped forward, and saw Avery, Lestrange, Tom and Hadrian all denouncing him, but before anything too vicious could be said, he had cast the spell, it turned into a jack-in-box one of those really old fashioned wind up ones.

"Very good," Merrythought said, nodding, she'd assumed for a moment there she would need to intervene.

Orion stepped forward, gripping his wand tightly, squeaking when his worst fear showed itself, a very large werewolf, snarling with its sharp pointy fangs glistening in the moonlight. "R-r-r-Riddikulus!" he managed to get out, then the werewolf had on a red cloak, no teeth and very large eyes, a nod to the child's tale they were told as young children.

"Oh my what big eyes you have," one of the Gryffindors said in a high pitched voice laughing uproariously, the other Gryffindors laughed with him.

Hadrian watched Tom closely; he was the only one he'd known what the Boggart turned into. It was obvious really, Tom had been scared of death from a young age, and he would see himself dead, although this one would actually be Tom not the Voldemort look alike. He was correct of course, it was himself dead he was seeing, Hadrian thought with sadness, but his eyes widened in shock when it morphed into himself dead, now that would have been freaky if he hadn't seen himself dead-like by a Boggart before. Instead all he felt was shock that him dying was one of Tom's worst fears, it spoke volumes…a lot of volume actually.

"Riddikulus!" Tom stated confidently, he would never let either one happen, he would ensure that.

"Next," Merrythought said, gesturing for Hadrian to move forward. "Come now, Mr. Peverell, we don't have all day."

"I don't think it's a good idea," Hadrian said, he wasn't sure if anyone would be affected if his Boggart was still a Dementor but they could be.

"If you want zero points for today's class then very well," Merrythought barked.

A lot of the students were laughing now.

Hadrian sighed, "Very well, on your head be it," Hadrian informed her and stood in front of the Boggart before she could say anything. The Slytherin's sensing it was going to be something dramatic took a few steps back just to be on the safe side, unfortunately they weren't any safer there than anyone else. The room began to get freezing cold, as one by one each of the students began to succumb to their worst memories, the teacher completely paralyzed as a Dementor began to float in the middle of the classroom.

Only once his own memories began to get the better of him did Hadrian flick out his wand, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" and a Jackal of all things leapt from Hadrian's wand causing many of the pureblood's to shriek in horror knowing what that spell did to dark wizards. It didn't happen; the jackal instead surrounded the Boggart, forcing it back into the cupboard before Hadrian slammed it shut with a loud deafening thud. The room remained ominously silent, as the students continued to shudder under the affects of the Dementors.

"What on earth is going on here?" Professor Boots cried out as she entered the room having heard the loud commotion. The Muggle studies teacher froze at the sight of all the students clearly affected by something…but what? She couldn't see anything that could have caused it.

"We were being taught how to defend ourselves against a Boggart, Professor Boots," Lestrange explained straightening up refusing to show fear. "Hadrian's Boggart was a…a…Dementor,"

"Mr. Peverell are you alright?" the professor immediately asked, zoning in on him concern splashed across her face.

"I warned Professor Merrythought that it wasn't a good idea," Hadrian said, not even glancing at the teacher but just watching the jackal roam around the room.

The Muggle studies teacher immediately twirled around in search for her colleague, eyes widening in shock when she saw the fully fledged patronus. Gaping in astonishment, she literally had to stop herself thinking on it further, she had to ensure everyone was alright, she'd never expected to hear that they'd just faced a damn Dementor and somehow were feeling its affects. Then she saw her, quickly grabbing a hold of the catatonic woman, she began herding her from the classroom, making her way the few doors down to the hospital wing, calling out for Healer Change before she'd even opened the door.

"Dear Merlin, what happened?" Change asked, moving forward worried for the vacant woman.

"Mr. Peverells Boggart turned into a Dementor, the entire class is feeling the affects," Boots quickly explained in a hushed rush.

"POPPY! Come at once!" Change called out, "Put her on the bed, inform Poppy to give her a calming draught." with that she was stepping out her ward and making her way to the Defence classroom.



For the half hour, Healer change was truly run ragged as she got all the students to the hospital wing and administered calming draughts to them all. Then she'd had to contact both groups head of house to be there and the Headmaster, Merrythought was the worst off, understandably she wasn't a child and had more memory's and things to fear.

"How is everyone?" Dippet commanded as he entered the room, his eyes filled with concern for each and every student.

"Some are sleeping it off as you can see, some are still feeling a bit of a chill," Change informed him, as she placed a cup of hot chocolate in the hands of each student that was still awake. There was a chocolate biscuit on the saucer for them that would get rid of any lingering affects.

"How are you feeling, Hadrian?" Dippet asked, sitting down next to him.

"I'll be alright, Headmaster," Hadrian said giving him a grateful smile.

"The thing you had to fear is fear itself, you are a constant surprise," Dippet said, patting at his arm. If he had known Merrythought's plans he would have pulled Hadrian from the class. Out of fear that seeing his attackers again could cause him more emotional upheaval when he was just learning to live a normal unencumbered life. It was nice to see Hadrian enjoying himself, laughing, making friends; he'd feared for a while that Hadrian had just been too damaged by his life with the Muggles to adapt. He'd thrown himself into his work, then suddenly he and Tom were talking and eating together, he was exactly what Hadrian had needed, calm, just as much a hard worker and had a group of friends.

"I did try and tell her it was a bad idea," Hadrian added, pretending to be scared of possible expulsion.

"Oh, dear me, no, you aren't responsible nobody is," Dippet waved his concern away. Glancing up he looked for Tom and he didn't need to look far, he was on the next bed after all, you'd never find one far away from the other. "How are you fairing, Tom?"

"I'm fine, Headmaster Dippet," Tom said, giving him a smile, the only ones that knew it was completely fake was Dumbledore, Hadrian and of course their close friends.

"There's no need to be so strong all the time, Tom, you have good friends who will be there for you when you need them," Headmaster Dippet informed him sympathy written across his face. The newspaper had reported a fight to the death between a man Tom Riddle Senior and Morfin Gaunt, with how pale Tom had gone, it had been obvious to all that at least one of them was a family member. Probably his father and he knew Tom had grown up in an Orphanage, what a way to find out your father had been alive, in a wizarding newspaper reporting his death.

Tom turned to face Hadrian, black eyes possessive, "I do, Headmaster, I know," Hadrian would do absolutely anything for him, that much had become obvious on New Year. It had been the turning point for Tom, and unfortunately the Boggart had opened up another one before its time.

Dumbledore just observed the scene suspicion churning in his gut, he had done something about it, he had anonymously written to the Ministry and implied they should question Tom Riddle days ago, that not everything was as it seemed. He wasn't sure if anything would come of it, he knew the history between Gaunt and Riddle, and it had started long before the boy had been born. He was positive that Tom Riddle had something to do with it, it was all too convenient, and he couldn't remove the boy's wand and check it, not without cause, and the Auror's didn't exactly need cause, just suspicion. He couldn't let them two out into the world if they were breaking the law.

"Headmaster Dippet?" a voice called out walking into the hospital wing, eyes widening when he saw it was full of students.

"You called the Auror's?" Hadrian squeaked out in shock, finding hilarity in Auror Prewitts eyes widening as well as the look of confused bafflement on Dippet's face. "I conjured a patronus when I realized what was going on! I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt!"

"Calm down, I'm sure they aren't here for that," Dippet calmed the hysterical wizard down, before standing up and heading over to them, he noticed that Prewitt was with his usual partner Auror Moody.

Hadrian turned to Tom, raising an eyebrow, questioning whether Tom had been able to glean their surface thoughts to find out why they were there. He was just sitting there his brow furrowed, either he was thinking about what he learned, or he hadn't been able to get anything from their thoughts and he didn't like it. He wasn't sure which way he preferred it be. Turning back he found that the Headmaster had left with the Auror's, seeing a flash of buoyant orange robes his eyes narrowed suspiciously, Dumbledore was the nosiest wizard in the world, there was no way he wasn't curious about what was going on…unless…unless he knew already…

Climbing out of bed, he put his cup down and napped his biscuit and made his way over to Tom's side, Tom shuffled to the side and Hadrian climbed beside him. "What did you get?" Hadrian whispered into Tom's ear, keeping an eye out on Dumbledore, who was watching them, his blue eyes filed with fire.

"They're here to question me," Tom told him, keeping his voice very low too, he'd only gotten it because of their surprise when Hadrian had distracted them enough with talks of Patronuses.

"I think Dumbledore's behind it," Harry whispered, he hadn't done that in the future…or maybe he had, perhaps he'd charmed the Aurors…who knew? Or maybe they hadn't had much to investigate due to the fact that Morfin Gaunt had confessed everything.

Tom's eyes flashed furiously, his teeth bearing animalistic like, the feel of Hadrian touching his hand, "Calm down, they won't think a fifteen year old did it, alright? They've probably been told by their superior to investigate for the sake of covering all bases and return to the Ministry. I know you can do it," he added smirking a little, before getting himself comfortable and eating his biscuit. He had missed Transfiguration with Dumbledore, then Potions after lunch.

Hadrian noticed that Lestrange was scribbling away at the end of his bed, and he would bet anyone ten galleons that it was that potions essay he had forgotten. It wasn't long before an annoyed Dippet and sheepish Auror's entered the hospital wing again. All the while Hadrian rubbed his knuckles against Tom's hand. Trying to tell him to keep his cool without saying any words.

Well they wouldn't be laughing at him anymore, he thought staring at the Gryffindors before trailing back towards his own housemates, the teacher was still catatonic, she would also be forced to revaluate her belief that Boggarts weren't sentient. He certainly hadn't seen all this occurring when he stepped forth to face the blasted Boggart.

Chapter End Notes

well what did you think of this chapter? :D lot of action in it and during school time too :D I know i've been having it happening in the halls or common room too much so i thought i'd try something in the classroom...any suggestions are welcomed and thank you to werebunny for the idea for Hadrian's patronus ;) you're awesome! how long will tom wait before trying to gain his lordship? will Dumbledore realize what he's doing and try and prevent it only to be outsmarted by Harry again? will Dumbledore begin to really meddle in their lives? or will they just evade him? will Riddle Mansion become Slytherin Manor? or will they go to a Peverell ancestral home? maybe a different one each time? will we have Dobby make an appearance? we know House-elves die...or at least can die due to the fact Kreacher is old and the house-elves heads in Grimmauld Place but its never specified how :P or is that just a bit too predictable? probably...oh well we can wait :D R&R please

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Tom turned away from the conversation not really interested anymore, that was another hundred points to Slytherin, they were well and truly in the lead now, it would the other houses ages to catch up with them - if they ever could. Slytherin truly was the best house to be in, and this proved it. He noticed Dumbledore's gaudy robes from the corner of his eyes, and pointedly ignored him, knowing he was probably dying of curiosity. He was glad the old fool hadn't been allowed in.

Turning to Hadrian, a soft indiscernible sigh leaving his lips, contrary to how it looked, he had been shaken by the Boggart, seeing Hadrian dead had terrified him to the core, even more than his own death. He would never let it happen, to either of them, he would ensure that. It was only his convictions that had enabled him to cast the spell with his usual amount of confidence.

Before Hadrian had come along he had thought he was happy, but really it had been contentment, that he was slowly but surely gathering his own base, controlling them, manipulating them into doing what he asked them. Not that he had a fight on his hands, they were all too eager to do whatever it is he asked. He'd never been interested in a relationship either, nobody had interested him the slightest, they were all predictable within a few days, and while they were quite powerful they were nowhere near his level. He'd never been interested in just sitting down and talking to the others. Their constant whining about Muggle-born's doing better than them, or how their parents were forcing them to go to a party or Ministry function and how terribly boring it was. He knew he needed them so he had silently endured it, they would help him with his plans in the long run, over the years they'd learned when he didn't want to listen to them and shut the hell up.

Then along came Hadrian, powerful, smart and mysterious, could give him a run for his money and more importantly was more Slytherin than anyone else bar him. The unfamiliar feelings began to creep up on him, wanting to talk to him, keep him close, and keep him safe. Possessiveness he knew, but only to material items never with a person and never so strongly. The thought of anyone ever touching him caused his magic to wreak havoc within him. Along the way he had taught him a thing or two, not just him but the whole of Slytherin house. He cared very much about him, but he wasn't sure how Hadrian felt about him in turn...he had never once brought up the idea of bonding again. He was trying to give him time to decide, to bring it up himself but he was running low on patience.

Dumbledore had tried to ruin that, ruin it for them, for him, his eyes darkened considerably, he would find a way to make him pay.

"Hadrian? Hadrian, come on, wake up," Tom whispered giving him a little shake to wake him up.

"Hmm, wazzit?" Hadrian murmured, his bleary green eyes opening staring at Tom in disorientated confusion. He'd fallen asleep? Red splashed across his face as embarrassment flowed through him. The patronus used to take a lot out of him, but not anymore, or rather it shouldn't have, this new body wasn't used to the strain, and he hadn't immediately banished it hence it had soaked up more of his magic.

"Let's go, you can sleep in the dorm, or common room, we do not need to attend any classes for the rest of the day," Tom said, watching the red flush on Hadrian's cheeks in fascination, that was a first, and he found it extremely alluring and hoped he would get to see it again one day. Right now he just wanted to get them away from Dumbledore the further the better in his opinion.

"Alright," Hadrian agreed, muffling a yawn, as he wobbly stepped out of bed.

"Perhaps Mr. Peverell, you should remain in the Hospital wing until you recover and let your friends head out?" Dumbledore said with deceptive mildness, he wished for nothing more than to rush off after Horace and find out what had happened with the Auror's, had they not used the spell on his wand? They should have, it would have showed his guilt without a doubt. So yes, he really did want to know what happened, unfortunately Horace had furiously stormed out of the hospital wing, having previously ensured all his Slytherin's were well.

"I'll be fine," Hadrian said curtly swaying just a little, not in the mood for Dumbledore's false concern. He suspected Dumbledore wanted that time to talk to him, but would he hell. He felt arms wrapping around his midsection and pull him close, he didn't even need to look to know it was Tom staking his claim. He was grateful for it nonetheless, as he didn't feel safe on his feet at the moment, now that the adrenaline had worn off.

Together they both began to leave the hospital wing; the other Slytherin friends had their back and walked out together. They were positively bursting with questions they wanted to ask, but they stretched their pureblood decorum to the max as they suppressed their desire for answers at least until they got to their common room. They occasionally glanced at one another knowingly; it seemed like forever before they reached the portrait and quickly called out the password and clambered in after Tom and Hadrian.

"Accio Hadrian's blanket," Tom summoned Hadrian's favourite throw, something he had gotten him for his Christmas. It didn't just have the Slytherin emblem for Hogwarts but Salazar Slytherin's personal crest, he had at that point particularly declared that Hadrian was his husband to be, what could he say? He wanted everyone aware that Hadrian was off limits to them. He wasn't sure whether Hadrian understood it or not, while he knew a lot some information, it was the whole pureblood scene he was sorely lacking. He would see to it that he knew and understood everything though before they left Hogwarts. It was fluffy and soft, and Hadrian seemed to love it, he certainly slept with it every night. He found it amusing, or had, until he realized that Hadrian had never had a proper blanket or duvet growing up, and well the covers at Hogwarts weren't his, the blanket was and if anyone tried anything with it, he wouldn't want to be in the same room with them. There was also the fact he'd never been given anything personal or that he really liked as a gift that wasn't tarnished with betrayal. He had vowed there and then that Hadrian would never experience anything like that again; he would protect him from everything and everyone.

Hadrian plopped himself down, wrapping the throw around him and snuggling into the couch, Tom moved him so his head was on his knee, and he was still feeling out of sorts. He could smell himself and Tom on the blanket and it soothed him for some weird reason. He was drowsily falling back asleep, the feel of the flames pleasantly against his skin from the fire in the fireplace.

"How the hell did you manage to cast a fully fledged patronus!" Thaddeus blurted out as he sat down, still reeling from that.

"By pointing my wand, moving it in a circular motion and saying 'Expecto Patronum'," Hadrian said dryly, eyes still closed, the feeling of Tom's fingers carding through his hair, he knew it was probably more for Tom's sake than his, he had no doubt the Boggart had affected him more than he was letting on.

"But Dark wizards can't cast it," Lestrange said his voice hushed, as if he was talking about a forbidden subject.

Hadrian sniggered before it became a full blown laugh; it exhausted him tremendously, so he had to force himself to stop, "Where did you get that idea from?"

"A dark wizard once cast it…and he was consumed with maggots. It killed him; dark wizards can't cast that spell." Thaddeus continued on.

Hadrian scoffed, "Lies, anyone can cast that damn spell if they have the power for it, the power being a pure untarnished memory, one strong enough to cast a fully fledged patronus. I'm dark and as you can see, I didn't get eaten by a bunch of maggots. Some stupid idiot of a light wizard probably came up with the rumour, 'Oh look at me, I can't be a dark wizard I can cast a patronus,' no, its nonsense. Maggots, Patronus' also serve a secondary use, you can use it to send message."

"Messages? How?" Carrow couldn't help but scoff at the absurdity.

"Go up the stairs," Hadrian said, his tone going dark, "That's the third time I've been laughed at today and it's pissing me off," he growled. Tom glared at them all in warning; he wouldn't tolerate it much longer either. Nobody laughed at Hadrian and got away with it, he would find a way to make Carrow regret that.

Carrow gulped visibly, eyes wide, he decided against not going, he didn't want to piss Hadrian off anymore than he already was right now. He fled up the stairs as quickly as his two feet would carry him, waiting patiently for what? He honestly had no idea. Then a few seconds later he jumped when the Jackal patronus appeared through the wall startling him badly. He was glad he was alone; otherwise he would never have heard the end of it. 'Come back down,' it said in Hadrian's voice! Carrow stayed there dumbstruck despite the fact it disappeared again, only once he'd gotten over the shock did he stumble blindly back down. "That was bloody amazing!" he managed to get out through his shock and awe.

Hadrian just shrugged, he'd mostly done it out of spite since Dumbledore had been the one to twist the use of the Patronus to messenger. Now he couldn't claim that, just one of the many things he would be screwing up for the old fool.

"Did you come up with that?" Tom whispered quietly into Hadrian's ear, his fingers still carding through Hadrian's hair, it was a very addictive feeling.

"No, Dumbledore," Hadrian whispered, and despite his whisper the vindictive satisfaction in his voice and on his face was obvious.

"What about not wishing to take others accomplishes away from them?" Tom said chuckling at his devious partner.

"He's an exception, the obvious exception," Hadrian sneered thinking about the old fool, shivering at the dark chuckle he heard, Merlin how could a simple chuckle do wicked things to his thoughts and body? It was utterly ridiculous. "You do know the Jackal represented you don't you? I don't remember much about the animals in the patronus section, but I remember enough to realize that it represents you." quite obvious really, Tom was his only real connection here except Death of course, and the other Slytherin's but they were just friends, Tom was different obviously.

"I know," Tom said in smug satisfaction, his eyes glowed as he stared at Hadrian, oh he knew from the second he realized what it was who it had represented.

Hadrian rolled his eyes, "Of course, I've just helped stroke your ego further," he teased, nudging him lightly, sighing softly Merlin he was just too tired. His eyes closed, and he fell asleep listening to the rumbling of Tom's chest and the distant sound of the others chattering quietly.

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Tom stared at Hadrian perplexed, was it exhaustion or something Hadrian didn't understand? He was willing to bet that it was perhaps a bit of both. Honestly, he didn't understand why Hadrian didn't just pick up a book on the subject, and it wasn't his unwillingness to learn since Tom rarely saw Hadrian without a book. He made a note to get the best book for the subject out of the library and give it to him; it explained everything in great detail. It definitely had been the best book on the subject for him. He was getting well off topic, he thought to himself in consternation.

"Where are they?" Tom asked his tone dark.

Hadrian didn't need to ask who he was talking about; it was pretty obvious judging by his mood at the moment. "They're at the library," Hadrian explained tiredly, he was too exhausted to deal with dictator Tom right now. And there was no doubting that it was dictator Tom that was at the forefront at the moment. Tom hated not knowing what was going on, that and the fact someone had disobeyed him was making him even more unreasonable, hopefully what he'd said would be taken into consideration.

"How are you feeling?" Tom asked completely disregarding everything when he sensed that Hadrian was probably too sick to be out of bed still. He moved towards the chair, ignoring Avery as he pressed his hand against Hadrian's forehead, frowning at the heat emanating from the teen who leaned into his cool touch. He definitely needed something to help bring his fever down, the urge to force Avery to leave and get a pepper-up was strong but he didn't trust him one bit.

"I'll be fine," Hadrian sighed, he just hated being sick, and especially on the weekend, there was nothing worse. He had to admit he was slightly taken aback and surprised by the fact Tom was so concerned, concerned enough to forget his earlier ire at the situation. Not something he'd ever thought he'd see.

"I'll get you a pepper-up potion as soon as we're done here," Tom informed him, in other words he would send one of the others to get it, they would regret leaving him alone.

"Stand up!" Tom stated curtly, glaring at Avery who still hadn't moved.

"I can't," Avery said, sweat beating against his brow and his neck, "Not until Hadrian rejects or accepts my oath," he'd already acted like a complete and utter Gryffindor by proposing this without a single ounce of Slytherin cunning, knowing it was his only option, he wasn't going to defy tradition as well. He would rather take any torture heaped upon his person than disregard their traditions in such a manner, traditions he had been brought up knowing and revering as the very foundation of their society

Tom's eyes narrowed impossibly further, "What oath?" he demanded hotly, even more furious, but part of him was glad he had come when he had, so he could prevent whatever it was that Avery was trying to do.

"Life shield," Avery confessed, glancing warily up at Tom, the coolness of the dungeons drying his sweat only for more to replace it. Part of him was glad; the feel of the sweat running down his neck was entirely unpleasant.

Tom froze, "Do you find me inadequate in my ability to care for my intended?" Tom hissed out, his teeth gritting as he tried to contain himself, which worked by vividly reminding himself that Hadrian was far too close and the backlash would be terrible, add the fireplace well it just didn't bear thinking about.

Hadrian arched an eyebrow at his words; it's the first time since Tom had asked for his hand that he'd said anything. Oh he knew about the quilt though, he wasn't completely stupid, and if Tom thought he didn't know - he was most assuredly wrong. He didn't know a lot about the old ways like the purebloods but he wasn't completely in the dark. Although right now it definitely felt like he was, since he didn't understand what life shield meant but obviously Tom did and he'd taken it offensively. He would need to think on it later, but one thing was becoming apparent, Tom wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted - which was just exactly who Tom was.

"No," Avery said emphatically, "There would be nobody better," he added, stroking Tom's ego, but it was also the truth, but he would have said anything to avoid the magic he could feel leaching from Tom, it was dark oppressive and violent in its intensity. "I've done him wrong, this is the only way to make up for it and regain his trust and so you know that I won't betray it. I will be your most loyal, not for the oath but because I realized my mistakes…" his jealousy had gotten the better of him, he wanted things to go back to the way they were, and yes, even with Hadrian, it was better than what his life had been like these past weeks. Who would have thought Tom's network extended to the outside world to the other purebloods?

"How did you word it?" Tom asked his gaze becoming calculating and shrewd, perhaps Hadrian had been right, and perhaps Avery's had the capacity to be extremely loyal to him and his cause. His cause, he hadn't exactly put it that way before. He sensed the truth in Avery's words which immediately consoled him, the thought of anyone finding him inadequate in his abilities to protect his intended had indeed infuriated him.

"That I will willingly bind my life to Hadrian Peverell, I will act as a shield as long as he wishes," Avery murmured, quite surprised he hadn't been cursed yet, although he wasn't going to be so quick to let his guard down. It wouldn't be the first time Tom had delayed in punishing them after some perceived slight wrongdoing. It went without saying that he couldn't betray Hadrian, the bond would not allow it whether it was specified in the wording or not. It was just basic wording he'd used, he hadn't wanted to make the oath too binding and end up screwing up somewhere.

Hadrian's eyes widened, bind his life to him? He needed to speak to Death right now! And he'd barely thought it when the familiar feeling of his mind being invaded enveloped him.

'Yes,' Death said, sounding amused, he hadn't heard Hadrian quite so clearly or fanatically before.

'If I agree to that bond, Avery won't be literally bound to me right? He won't be immortal?' Hadrian asked in a rush, while he didn't like the thought of anyone binding themselves to him, he had to admit he felt better knowing that Avery wouldn't try anything to him. Tom didn't know he was immortal, and if he came back again…Tom might not believe it. In fact he probably wouldn't he'd think it was some sort of plot Dumbledore had cooked up to try and catch him out by using someone he cared about.

'No, the bond would merely be until he dies,' Death reassured him, thoughtful, Hadrian was quite the unique individual, anyone else would have salivated over having someone to be their shied, it bound two families quite close, such a bond hadn't been used in decades, it was quite obscure, this Avery had done his homework. There was nobody more honourable that Avery could have chosen to bind himself to, despite his sorting into Slytherin. 'Your intended is trying to get your intended, just call me if you have any more questions, now excuse me I have souls to collect' and with that Death left Hadrian to his decision, already knowing it, since his mind had been made up from the second he had answered his turbulent thoughts.

Death's last fleeting thought before he transported himself to Germany was It was a good thing he had thought to inoculate Hadrian's new body otherwise the flu would have killed him.

"Hadrian?" Tom called out, pressing his hand against Hadrian's forehead once more, checking to make sure he hadn't gotten worse in the half hour since he checked him last.

"M'tired," he didn't want to talk, perhaps getting up had been a bad idea. Too bad he couldn't talk to Tom in his mind, it would certainly make it easier, and he just wanted to sleep.

"Accept the bond," Tom informed him imperiously, he wasn't going to take no for an answer here, Hadrian would do what he asked. "Just say the words, 'I accept your vow Aiden Avery, so mote it be'," figuring Hadrian might not know the official response on this matter. "Do it." it would be added protection for Hadrian, not that he would need it of course, but it certainly didn't hurt either.

"Will you stop if I do?" Hadrian murmured, having every intention of accepting the bond but Tom didn't need to know that now did he?

Tom's lips twitched, only Hadrian would ever dare to speak to him that way, and he suspected it was partly what drew him towards the teen. "Yes," he answered, feeling smug and satisfied that he'd gotten his way, although he would have had a bigger argument on his hands if Hadrian wasn't sick with the flu.

"Fine," Hadrian rasped, "I solemnly accept your sincere vow, Aiden Avery, so mote it be," magic flared between himself and Avery, binding the wizards to their word.

Avery stiffened, swallowing thickly, feeling the full extent of Hadrian's magic, the forbidden thoughts that Hadrian was even more powerful than Tom washed over him, dangerous thoughts indeed, a shudder ran over his prone form, withholding a whine when he felt that oh so powerful magic leave him, Merlin, he was so envious of Tom and Hadrian, they had magic off the charts, powers that he and the others could only dream about, finally he could move, but he was quite honestly unsure whether he actually wanted to or not.

"Go and retrieve at least a dozen vials of Pepper-up potions, half from the infirmary and half from the potions cupboard," Tom stated sharply, "Be quick about it and bring it up the stairs." at least Avery was here so someone was fetching it. Neither Slughorn nor Chang would blink if a few pepper-up potions went missing; it wasn't exactly on the watch list. A lot of the Ravenclaws actually stole them when they had colds to get through classes instead of letting their bodies' rest, which resulted in a stay in the infirmary.

Avery did stand up then, shaky at first, he'd experienced every emotion possible in the past half hour. From hope, expectation, fear, terror, relief and now he felt a little numb that it was done. He did feel a little more normal and at ease having been given something to do, and actually being acknowledged, he no longer felt invisible and insignificant something that had been intolerable and nobody would know but it had hurt a great deal. Without a word to either Tom or Hadrian he made his way out of the common room, making his way directly to the student potions cupboard to retrieve the vials of potions. Feeling a sense of accomplishment.

"You shouldn't have gotten up," Tom said, turning his attention back to Hadrian to find him almost asleep on the chair. "Come on, lets get you back to bed." as much as he wanted to ask Hadrian the question that was burning inside, he didn't, now definitely wasn't the time. Grasping Hadrian's elbow he got the teen to his feet, gripping him tightly around the middle before leading Hadrian up the dorms. Which was easier said than done, but they got there in the end.

He put Hadrian in his bed after he removed his cloak and shoes, Hadrian's bed had been unused for a while now, "You got letters from Gringotts this morning, I'll put it on your drawers." which had been levitated closer to his side of the room so Hadrian could fetch whatever he wanted within reach. Tom reached out and placed the letters on the top of the drawers as he said he would.

"It's probably just another statement and an updated version of everything in my estate," Hadrian murmured quietly, trying to stay awake, the pepper-up potion sounded divine. "You need to go and get something to eat, I mean it," he'd missed breakfast, that much was obvious since the others would have waited for him and not returned to the common room without him.

"It's over already, I will attend lunch and bring something back for you," Tom promised as he slid onto the bed, sitting on top, toeing his shoes off and picking up his book he promptly began reading. Making a mental note to also go to the library after lunch and pick up the book unless one of the others had the book in their trunks.

"What were you up to?" Hadrian asked curiously, turning around, kicking the covers off him a little, and feeling too hot now. It was never ending, hot, cold, hot then cold again, he still wanted that shower, maybe he could do that after he got that promised pepper-up potion.

"I went to Gringotts," Tom explained, his book forgotten, as he stared down at the feverish green eyes, he kept forgetting how well Hadrian knew him. "It's a good thing I didn't go earlier; apparently I needed Morfin Gaunt's death certificate to become the Head of the Gaunt estate."

"Me neither, but Gringotts knows whenever someone dies," Hadrian murmured, partially confused, "Maybe its something they came up with later."

"Perhaps," Tom replied idly.

"So what name did you take?" Hadrian asked, not that he truly cared, as long as he didn't go by the name of Voldemort that is, although there was plenty of time for that, he wasn't exactly sure when Tom actually became Lord Voldemort, just that he had by the time he created the first Horcrux with the accidental death of Myrtle. He sincerely hoped that it wouldn't happen, if anything happened to his friend he would be furious.

"Slytherin, Tom Marvolo Slytherin," Tom said smugness dripping from every word; he was finally done with his disgusting Muggle fathers name. The money he'd saved so far was now part of the Gaunt estate, when he was seventeen the Gaunt and Slytherin estate would be merged, and he would work extremely hard to give it the status it deserves no matter what it took.

"I'm glad you kept your first name," Hadrian said, his gaze passionate, he meant every word and it was clearly written across his face. "At least you won't have to retake your O.W.L's with your new name then, since we haven't taken them yet." they would be taking them soon enough, in fact this time next year they would be.

Tom's lips twitched, genuine happiness flowing through him, Hadrian accepted every dark sordid part of him without qualms. He just wished Hadrian had said yes to him when he asked to bond. The uncertainly and not knowing was driving him to distraction. A knock on the door had Tom's thoughts changing direction, after a few minutes the door opened, and Avery's head peered around the doorframe, straight at Tom's bed knowing by now, despite the fact he hadn't been part of the group, that Hadrian and Tom were always on that bed when they were in the Dorm.

"I have the potions?" Avery questions, still unsure of his position despite the fact he'd sworn the oath, it wasn't going to be easy and he had everyone's forgiveness to work on but he could do it.

"Bring them here," Tom said sitting up straighter, gesturing for Avery to come to him.

Avery quickly moved over, handing the vials over which were in a hastily transfigured plain beech box.

"Have you finished your homework?" Hadrian asked Avery, knowing he had a tendency to wait until the last second, he was worse than Lestrange and Carrow put together.

"Yeah," Avery answered, giving a firm nod, without friends or social gatherings his homework certainly hadn't suffered, it was the only thing that helped ease the boredom.

"Here," Tom said handing him one of the potions after inspecting it to make sure it hadn't been improperly brewed.

Hadrian accepted the vial and gulped it down in one single swallow, sighing even as steam poured out of his ears, he could already feel himself improving vastly. Potions were just awesome like that, while it was still working at full capacity he was definitely heading for a shower. Sliding out of bed or trying to as Tom grabbed a hold of him.

"Where are you going?" Tom stated firmly, he should stay in bed and recover.

"I'm going for a shower, I'll be back in ten minutes, then I'll get some rest, I promise," Hadrian said dutifully, knowing Tom wouldn't let the fact he should be resting go.

"Fine," Tom grumbled half heartedly, hopefully Hadrian would be back before he had to head for lunch. He had no idea how impossible it would be to keep Hadrian in bed, there was nothing worse than lounging about for him, he was used to being on the move.

Albus Dumbledore was quite frankly perplexed, Armando had been quite distant and cold as of late, which wasn't like him at all. In fact if it wasn't about the students or the school itself, Armando insisted they had nothing to talk about. He felt rather hurt by being ignored by someone he regarded as a close personal friend. Even Horace had been in an odd mood since the whole Auror debacle; every time he tried to speak to his good friend he almost had his head bitten off. He absolutely refused to speak on the subject, and he had tried every way to make it so. He knew nothing of what had gone on in that room, and it infuriated him, and there was nobody he could glean the information from, Tom Riddle had never met his eyes fully since his first days here at Hogwarts. The Aurors had never approached again and from all indications he'd picked up from Doge was the case was closed. The Aurors were obviously incompetent if they hadn't checked his wand, unless Tom had charmed them as he did everyone else, you would think Auror's would be wiser to manipulation but apparently not.

His eyes narrowed in on the subject of his thoughts walking through the Great Hall with Hadrian Peverell. Jealousy shimmered through his gut just watching them. Neither was afraid to show their affections for one another, unaware of all the jealous looks they received from other students that could have been him and Gellert if only he'd been able to keep his lover from such a dark path. One day Hadrian would wake up and realize he too was with a dark evil wizard and leave. He wished he could spare the boy that heartache, as much as he distrusted Hadrian he distrusted Tom more. The boy had been evil long before entering the halls of Hogwarts. Nothing would change his path now, perhaps he should have a little conversation with Hadrian, he had tried in the hospital wing that day, but after how he had been with the young teenager he wasn't quite so trusting of him. He couldn't very well get someone else to do it, since they were all blind to the true nature of Tom Riddle.

The boy still looked quite sick, he had missed his class on Friday due to his illness, straightening his spine, he made his decision, he would give the boy detention and have a long conversation with him about suitable partners and seeing beneath the surface, that what one saw wasn't how someone always was. He was so sure Tom kept his true nature hidden from Hadrian; he would never be able to comprehend someone seeing another's true nature and being able to accept it. Perhaps because the thought of what those two powerful wizards could do shook him to the core, and had since their relationship had become increasing obvious to him.

"Hey, Hadrian, how are you feeling?" Myrtle asked Hadrian as she approached the pair.

"I'm fine," Hadrian replied as he always did, "Sorry I missed the get together," they had a get together in the library, mostly just him and Myrtle, sometimes both their boyfriends or even a few friends, Myrtle continued to improve magically, especially in charms and defence, thanks to the books Hadrian recommended. Just because she could defend herself now, it didn't mean she wanted to stop. She was only so good as long as she continued to learn at least according to Hadrian anyway.

"It's fine, I just did some reading in the common room instead, I've been meaning to give you this since the news of what happened in defence got out, but it didn't come until three days ago," Myrtle informed him, handing him the brown paper wrapped book. "It's about Patronus' and the spirit animal; I thought you might like to read up on what your spirit animal represents. It's a gift, I hope you like it,"

"Thanks Myrtle," Hadrian said with a grin, it wasn't uncommon for either of them to buy each other books, in fact Hadrian had bought her four already, ones that weren't available in Hogwarts library. Myrtle had basically done the same, getting them either from her vault or buying a couple here and there. He didn't tell her he already vaguely knew what his Jackal represented or that he knew it represented Tom, she had thoughtfully bought him a gift she thought he would like, and he did like it, it was another book for his growing pile.

"What have you done to Dumbledore, by the way?" Myrtle asked to the surprise of Tom and Hadrian.

"Excuse me?" Tom asked smoothly, wondering what the hell she was talking about.

"Well when you walked in he was glaring, and I swear I saw him look jealous, then the anger took back over, in fact he's still boring holes in my skull," Myrtle murmured shuddering a little, it was an intense stare nobody could blame her for her reaction.

"Interesting," Tom replied silkily, refusing to look over, he did wonder if Myrtle was accurate in her guess, anger he understood, Dumbledore looked at him that way quite often, but jealousy? A slow smirk spread out across his features, remembering Hadrian's talk on how Dumbledore and Grindelwald had wanted to be benign overlords to the Muggles until one of them killed Ariana Dumbledore. There was a chance that Myrtle was right and Dumbledore was jealous. The thought of it had him having to suppress an unseemly cackle of amusement; he honestly never thought he'd see the day. Instead of cackling he just tightened his hold around Hadrian, being more than obvious about his actions, and once again had to suppress the urge to look over at Dumbledore.

He was unable to do so completely, he caught the look on Dumbledore's face as he looked at him from the corner of his eyes. A smooth laugh left his lips, before they tugged up into a smirk of triumph, unlike Dumbledore, Hadrian would never leave because he saw and knew every part of him.

"What on earth tickled you?" Hadrian asked glancing at Tom in amusement, it wasn't often he heard such a genuine laugh from Tom, at least not here in the Great Hall of all places.

"Nothing," Tom insisted, pressing his forehead against Hadrian's, the pepper-up potion was working well since he was quite cool still.

"Alright," Hadrian said, not quite turning around yet, he did wave goodbye to Myrtle who insisted she had to get back to her seat.

Chapter End Notes

One more chapter until the summer holidays! and then on to fifth year...oh boy it's going to take forever isn't it? At least its a regular updated one and I can slot the years into four chapters I'm hoping to at any rate! So any ideas on what I could use for classes? I do like it when i have them interacting in class...hmm I'll need to think on everything they learned in defence and see if there's anything i can use to spice the story up a little :D Still didn't get around to explain the jackal patronus but I will! Would you like to see more of Avery's thoughts leading up to and after the oath? R&R please

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Tom's eyes narrowed, confusion his primary emotion, a child's nursery? Why would Hadrian show him this of all things?

"In this memory it's all Hallows Eve, October 31st, 1981," Hadrian said coolly, as if this wasn't his life.

Tom stared at the sleeping baby, safely tucked in a blue blanket, unfortunately he wasn't sleeping for long, as loud explosives banging woke the child from slumber. The second those eyes opened, his heart skipped a beat, his gaze swinging to Hadrian almost immediately. A solemn nod was what got for his silent question.

"LILY, TAKE HARRY GO! IT'S HIM! GO! RUN! I'LL HOLD HIM OFF!" the alarm and terror could be heard in that voice even from the bedroom, even with the baby crying.

For a second there was the sound of rushing footsteps before the thump of a body could be heard, then a loud cry "JAMES!" a woman's voice cried out in obvious heartbreak, but the sound of her child's cry brought her out as she ran for the stairs and up into her son's bedroom, closing the door behind her.

The first thing Tom noticed was the terrified green eyes, watching as she soothed her son, soothed Hadrian. No, not Hadrian, she had called him Harry. As the door blasted open she returned her son to his cot, defiantly standing in front of the powerful wizard, who was extremely disfigured. Tom's first thought was in utter denial, there was no way this could be him, it was as if he had tried a Naga ritual that had gone seriously wrong.

"Stand aside!" the cold sibilant voice demanded.

"Not Harry, not Harry, please not Harry!" Lily begged.

"Not Harry?" Tom muttered bewildered, why the hell would he be after a toddler? What on earth could have set him down that course to spill magical blood? Especially a defenceless child…a defenceless Hadrian.

"Stand aside, you silly girl, stand aside, now…"

"Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead-"

"Not Harry! Please…have mercy…have mercy…" the twenty one year old begged once more - unashamedly so. Continuing to stand in the way of Voldemort, stopping him from seeing her son.

"I didn't understand at the time, why he would want to spare her when he had absolutely no problem killing Muggle Borns in the past…for six years it plagued me, but I eventually got an answer." Hadrian said softly, watching the scene in front of him. Watching his mother die at the hands of Voldemort, before the twin wand he had been destined for but no longer, turn on his younger self. Tom didn't say anything, he was just watching the scene in a state of disbelief. It was why Hadrian elected to say nothing, they would speak when Tom was more aware of his surroundings. In truth he wasn't sure whether Tom heard his statement or not.

Then green light surrounded the room in its entirety, the explosion didn't affect them of course, but the most pivotal moment was lost in the flash of light…which was the fact that the soul piece had slipped from Voldemort and into Harry. Tom did see himself nothing more than a spirit before it fled with an anguished filled cry as if the all the pain in the world at that moment redirected itself at Voldemort causing unimaginable pain.

The last thing either of them saw before the pensive ejected them was a pile of ashes beside a dead body with a crying little boy with a bleeding forehead the injury marked in the shape of a lightening bolt.

"How the hell can you stand to be near me?" Tom spat, as he backed away, he had killed Hadrian's parents, tried to kill the boy himself for Merlin's sake. How far had he fallen that he would try and kill a toddler? He was many things, had a lot planned…but never once had killing the next generation of magicals unless they directly opposed him with a wand in their damn hand came to mind. Which he had noticed that the woman, Hadrian's mother had not. If it had been the other way around he would have killed Hadrian where he stood, in fact he had gotten revenge on those who had made his mothers life a living hell, made her have to give birth in a muggle orphanage.

"You don't know all the facts yet, when you do you'll understand why you did what you did," Hadrian said quietly, sitting down surprised by Tom's reaction, he wasn't worried about his own demise but the fact he had killed his parents. He was not suggesting Voldemort had a good reason, but there was time enough to change that - to stop it happening…if he could. It just all depended on the outcome of all this. "Not that it means I was alright with it, but you have to understand its not happened yet…and I'm hoping that it wont."

"If you change anything you might not end up back here!" Tom protested profoundly, and he wasn't going to live without Hadrian.

"I won't suddenly disappear Tom, when my younger self is born…it won't affect me," Hadrian revealed, seeing the look on Toms face he added, "You'll find out why and how soon enough. We have a lot of memories to get through tonight."

"The facts?" Tom prompted when it became clear Hadrian wasn't going to continue.

"In 1979, a year before I was born one of your followers overheard a prophecy, one being said by Sybill Trelawney, descendant from a great line of seers, most prominently Cassandra Trelawney…she was in the Hogshead being interviewed by Albus Dumbledore for the divination post, despite the fact that it was publicly known that Dumbledore held no stock in divination and was trying to drop the subject from Hogwarts curriculum, just like Alchemy and many other subjects that had been dropped over the years." Hadrian said, sitting back watching Tom's reaction.

"Why the hell would he hold an interview in bar?" Tom scoffed at the absurdity of the notion, taking a seat.

"Because he wanted it to get out, the real prophecy had been uttered in his office just the day before, it was exactly the same but he knew that you were obsessed with divination and this was a way to have it revealed without him having to be obvious about it. After all why would you not trust the words brought back to you by your followers?" Hadrian shrugged, "Prophecies are in most ways self fulfilling. It takes someone believing in them for them come to fruition."

Tom gritted his teeth, the thought of being manipulated by Dumbledore left such a sour taste in his mouth. "What did it say?"

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…" that got Tom's attention, as his head jerked up, his gaze narrowing.

"Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies, this was what you got told, your follower had been caught snooping before the end could be heard, but I doubt that bothered Dumbledore…in the end he'd gotten what he wanted," Hadrian replied, "There were two children that fitted the description, but you chose the child most like you, a half blood over a pureblood, Dumbledore of course didn't inform the families they were in danger, he wanted the prophecy to play out, until he had no choice, a good friend of Lily's stepped forward, pleading for Dumbledore to save her, after he asked you to spare her life, but he didn't think you would, and so he went to the other side, began spying, despite the fact he was as dark as they come, his true home was with you, with the others, but his love for my mother sealed his fate and yours too. Its why the curse rebounded, the promise you made, the fact my mother was willing to die in my stead erected one of the most powerful rituals the world has ever seen, enhanced due to the night you chose to attack, Samhain."

"So you have the power to destroy me," Tom stated.

"I have the power, yes, but it never says that I would use it Tom, but even the possibility made you act," Hadrian said, his tone wary, "I don't want to fight you, I never did actually, each and every confrontation was started by you." his tone vehement.

Tom looked bewildered for a second, more than one confrontation? Yes, he wasn't liking the sound of it at all. He continuously refused to think on what he'd looked like.

"The Dark Lord will mark him his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not, and either must die at the hand of the other, for neither can live while the other survives. That is all we did for seventeen years, you survived as a spirit for thirteen years…while I barely survived my Muggle relatives…" Hadrian sighed, shaking off his lingering thoughts, "Ready for the next one?" standing up, his wand already at his temple and withdrawing the memory, very aware of the fact that each memory would make Tom more suspicious and wary of him…with probably a healthy dose of a desire to kill him.

It took all of a few seconds for the next memory to play out in front of them.

"This is the end of my first year at Hogwarts, I had tried numerous times to tell someone what was happening…but my Head of House…Professor McGonagall…yes that one, ignored me." Hadrian informed Tom, who seemed to prefer to observe his surroundings than speak while they were in the pensive.

It wasn't Snape, it wasn't even Voldemort - it was Quirrell.

"You!" Harry gasped.

"Me," Quirrell said calmly with a smile on his face, "I had wondered whether I'd be meeting you here, Potter,"

"But I thought - Snape-" Harry protested off kilter.

"Severus?" Quirrell said, "Yes, Severus does seem the type doesn't he so useful to hae him swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor st-stuttering p-professor Quirrell?"

"But Snape tried to kill me!" Harry said, so sure something was wrong, it couldn't be right.

"No, no, no I tried to kill you. Your friend Miss Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Snape at the Quidditch match. She broke my eye contact with you. Another few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom. I'd have managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering the counter-curse, trying to save you."

Tom closed his eyes, pinching the bride of his nose, before reopening them again, he had a funny feeling he knew what was happening here. Hadrian had basically informed him that he had outright tried to kill Harry many times.

"Snape was trying to save me?" Harry was utterly stunned.

"Of course," Quirrell said coolly, "Why do you think he wanted to referee your next match? He was trying to make sure I didn't try anything funny again. Funny, really, he needn't have bothered. I couldn't do anything with Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought Snape was trying o stop Gryffindor winning, he did make himself unpopular…and what a waste of time, when after all that, I'm going to kill you tonight." with a click of fingers, ropes sprang around Harry, confining him tightly.

"You're too nosy to live, Potter. Scurrying around the school at Halloween like that, for all I knew you'd seen me coming to look for what was guarding the stone." Quirrell stated.

"Do you know how many times I wanted to say that to you? But the hilarity would have been wasted on me alone," Hadrian teased, despite the memory he was viewing.

"Hilarious," Tom said drolly, but his lips were twitching just so, it still boggled his mind that Hadrian didn't care.

"You let the troll in?" Harry sounding confused.

"Certainly. I have a special gift with trolls, you must have seen what I did to the one in the chamber back there? Unfortunately, while everyone else was running around looking for it, Snape, who already suspected me, went straight to the third floor to head me off- and not only did my troll fail to beat you to death, that three-headed dog didn't even manage to bite Snape's leg off properly."

"Now, wait quietly, Potter. I need to examine this interesting mirror." Quirrell demanded.

Tom was looking at it himself, "I show not your face, but your hearts desire," it rung a bell, many men had wasted away gazing at that mirror, it was dangerous, how the hell had it managed to get into a school filled with children? To top if off Hadrian had apparently fought a damn Troll and won as well as ended up on a Quidditch team in his first year…

"Yes, I used to see my parents in it," Hadrian answered truthfully.

"I see the stone, I'm presenting it to my Master…but where is it?" Quirrell was getting desperate now.

"But Snape always seemed to hate me so much," Harry said.

Tom's lips twitched, well aware of what 'Harry' was up to, even if his clothes suggest he was a Gryffindor he truly as a Slytherin at heart even now as innocent and naive as he was.

"Oh, he does," Quirrell said, "Heavens yes. He was at Hogwarts with your father, didn't you know? They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead."

"But I heard you a few days ago, sobbing - thought Snape was threatening you…"

"Sometimes, I find it hard to follow my Master's instructions, he is a great wizard and I am weak -"

"You mean he was there in the classroom with you?" Harry gasped, he had already deduced that it was Voldemort. He just couldn't believe he was at Hogwarts of all places.

"He is with me wherever I go," Quirrell admitted, "I met him when I travelled around the world. A foolish young man I was then, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it…since then, I have served him faithfully, although I have let him down many times. He has had to be very hard on me. He does not forgive mistakes easily. When I failed to steal the stone from Gringotts, he was most displeased. He punished me…decided he would have to keep a closer watch on me…"

Tom would deny it until his dying breath but he actually squeaked in surprise, while it was true he had thought of that name…he had discarded it long ago, ever since he had made the decision to change his name to Slytherin. The anagram didn't fit it and so it became irrelevant. Tom did smirk though at the saying, that was a belief he held most dear already. He was glad to see that hadn't been lost over time. He wondered if he had the wizard

under the Imperious curse, or a variation of it at least, since he did seem to be talking freely.

"Yes, there's only power, but as long as it came from the pureblood's right?" Hadrian smirked wryly.

Tom had been about to reply, when he heard a raspy voice speak, despite the fact there was only two people in the room, blinking blankly he tried to look for the person he had missed, looking behind the mirror since it was that general area the voice came from. By the time he'd turned back to Hadrian Quirrell had grabbed Harry and was forcing him to look into the mirror. He snorted at Harry's blatant lie of shaking Dumbledore's hand after winning the house cup. Then the voice spoke again, speaking his own thoughts, informing Quirrell that Harry had lied.

"Not very subtle that," Tom said wryly.

Hadrian shrugged, "I was eleven, this year was the first time I'd really interacted with anyone…and I didn't know about occlumency which you are a Master of,"

"I have strength enough for this," the voice hissed.

"Harry Potter…" the face hissed when the turban was finally removed. "See what I have become? A mere shadow and vapour…I have form only when I can share another's body…but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds…unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks…you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the Forest…and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own…now…why don't you give me that stone in your pocket?"

Tom stared at himself horrified beyond belief. His only consolation and relief was the fact he knew Hadrian did not die, the utter disgust he had at his future self was magnified seeing how weak he was, how disgusting, how far he'd lowered himself, this had not been what he wanted, not the future he had envisioned for himself. This was the outcome if he used a Horcrux? This wraithlike creature?

"Don't be a fool," Voldemort snarled, "Better sae your own life and join me…or you'll meet the same end as your parents…they died begging me for mercy…"

"LIAR!" Harry shouted suddenly.

"I do not lie," Tom stated sharply, and he knew it was something that hadn't changed, his mother had begged for mercy…even if it was for her son, he may imply but he never outright lied - to anyone - he had no need for it.

"How touching…I always value bravery…yes, boy, our parents were brave…I killed your father first and he put up a courageous fight…but your mother needn't have died… she was trying to protect you…now give me the Stone, unless you want her to have died in vain."

"NEVER!" Harry yelled.

"SEIZE HIM!" Voldemort commanded.

Tom's eyebrows rose up as he watched the scene in front of him, awe and a little confusion swarming him, every time Quirrell touched Harry, he began to burn. All the while his older self shrieked for the wizard hosting him to seize him. When it became obvious that Quirrell couldn't do it, he was ordered to kill Harry. Then Harry filled with a dark fire that he'd seen when he tortured Avery came out and he reached out and grasped a hold of Quirrell's face and held on even as he screamed. That darkness had been present even then, just like his had been. The question remained how he had been so sickeningly loyal to the light for so long…until he remembered Hadrian telling him about the compulsion charms. He had been compelled to do the things he had, compelled away from his true place.

Then before the memory ended he heard Dumbledore's voice before they were forcefully evicted from the pensive as Harry lost consciousness.

"This is why I don't want you to go down the road with the Horcruxes, I want you to swear you'll never make one," Hadrian said, green eyes filled with fire.

"On one condition," Tom stated, his mind already making alternative plans, the Elixir of Life, it would grant him true immortality, he wouldn't end up that disgusting wraith thing should his body end up destroyed. So yes, he would give Hadrian his promise not to create Horcruxes, and if the Elixir of Life wasn't possible he would find alterative means, ones that Hadrian would surely approve of so they could be together forever.

"Which is?" Hadrian asked surprise, that was it? He would swear not to make them on a single condition? Staring into those dark eyes, he wondered what on earth Tom was up to now, there was no way he would so easily give up his quest for immortality…would he?

"That you bond with me, tonight," Tom said determinedly. "I'll even give you a Unbreakable Vow."

"What are you up to?" Hadrian asked, eyeing him shrewdly.

Tom didn't even try putting an innocent expression on, Hadrian knew him too well. "Will you?"

"After you've seen everything and you want to…then yes," Hadrian replied, a small smile on his face. Despite the danger he posed to Tom, he had yet to raise his wand to him, even knowing he had practically defeated him twice already. Oh, he would love to hear Tom's thoughts, what was he thinking? "I must admit…you're not reacting how I thought you would." and it caused a lost look to appear on his face.

"I am not that disgusting parasite you're used to dealing with," Tom argued.

"Not that, you know I've got the power to destroy you, you heard the prophecy and went after me with all you had," Hadrian said, slightly bewildered, "Why isn't that your focus now?"

Tom grabbed Hadrian pulling him close, "You're mine, you'll always be mine," wrapping his fingers through his brown tresses and tugging lightly, smashing their lips together, planting a possessive passionate kiss on those delectable lips. He wanted all of Hadrian, and tonight he would get all of him when they bonded. He was going to make it official as soon as the bonding was done. "You are as dark as I am, you were as Dark as I am even back then I saw it in you, and after all the light side has done to you, I seriously doubt you'd ever willingly go back." Dumbledore had been there during the whole debacle, just waiting to interfere he knew it, it was just Dumbledore all over. He didn't care what had happened in Hadrian's past, the future, because together they were going to remake it.

Knowing what he did now, it had been Hadrian's intention all along, slowly and sneakily making the magical world sit up and see him, publishing books while trying to preserve the magical world and the pureblood families. He knew how to avoid it all going wrong, and it seemed to centre from Dumbledore, but together again, they'd make sure Dumbledore faded into obscurity…in fact he wanted Dumbledore out of Hogwarts, out of his home, one thing at a time, he would think of something.

Hadrian closed his eyes, enjoying the closeness, praying that he was right, but surely Death wouldn't have sent him on this path if it were to fail? But he knew he couldn't blame death, the path was his to take, and if he had to go back in time…even further perhaps…he would do whatever it took to make sure Tom remained his, even if the only outcome was him NOT telling Tom about what happened in the future. "Ready for the next round?" he asked reluctantly still staying close.

"How many more are there to go?" Tom asked, inwardly shuddering as he remembered the disgusting thing he'd become. If Hadrian had shown him that to put him off making Horcruxes he had well and truly succeeded. They would need to talk about it in more detail though…and it looked as though they had all night.

"Not too many," Hadrian said, with that he returned his memory to his mind, and pulled out another calmly and precisely as if he was used to it.

once again touching it, they immersed themselves in yet another memory.

"What about my sister?" Ron asked jerkily.

"Well, as to that ― most unfortunate," Lockhart said, avoiding their eyes, wrenching open drawers and emptying the contents into a bag. "No one regrets more than I ―"

"You're the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher!" Harry protested. "You can't go now! Not with all the dark stuff going on here!"

"Each year we have a new DADA teacher, you cursed the position, one day though I'd love to know how you did it," Hadrian informed Tom. "That is Ronald Weasley," he added offhandedly.

"You were best friends with a Weasley?" Tom grimaced in disgust, they were light to the extreme.

"The friendship was genuine on my part! I was having trouble finding the platform, then Molly Weasley his mum, started yelling about Muggles, like a moth to a flame I went," Hadrian informed him green eyes filled with sadness, "I didn't know true friendship until I met you and the others."

"Well, I must say… when I took the job…" Lockhart muttered, now piling socks on top of his robes, "nothing in the job description … didn't expect…"

"You mean you're running away?" Harry demanded disbelievingly. "After all that stuff in your books?"

Tom's lips curled at the disgusting imbecile that dared to call himself a wizard.

"Books can be misleading," Lockhart said delicately.

"You wrote them!" Harry shouted.

"My dear boy," Lockhart said, - causing Hadrian to grimace at the title; Dumbledore called him that and he hated the phrase. "Do use your common sense. My books wouldn't have sold half as well if people didn't think I'd done all those things. No one wants to read about some ugly old Armenian warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves. He'd look dreadful on the front cover. No dress sense at all. And the witch who banished the Bandon Banshee had a hairy chin. I mean, come on…"

"So you've just been taking credit for what a load of other people have done?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Harry, Harry," Lockhart sighed, shaking his head impatiently "It's not nearly as simple as that. There was work involved. I had to track these people down. Ask them exactly how they managed to do what they did. Then I had to put a Memory Charm on them so they wouldn't remember doing it. If there's one thing I pride myself on, it's my Memory Charms. No, it's been a lot of work, Harry. It's not all book-signings and publicity photos, you know. You want fame, you have to be prepared for a long hard slog."

He banged the lids of his trunks shut and locked them.

"Let's see," he said. "I think that's everything. Yes. Only one thing left."

He pulled out his wand and turned on them.

"Awfully sorry, boys, but I'll have to put a Memory Charm on you now. Can't have you blabbing my secrets all over the place. I'd never sell another book…"

Harry reached for his wand just in time. Lockhart had barely raised his, when Harry bellowed, "Expelliarmus!"

Tom smirked in satisfaction, that had been an exceedingly well done, and not to forget powerful disarming charm.

Lockhart was blasted backwards, falling over his trunk. His wand flew high into the air; Ron caught it, and flung it out of the open window.

"Shouldn't have let Professor Snape teach us that one," Harry said furiously, kicking Lockhart's trunk aside. Lockhart was looking up at him, wary once more. Harry was still pointing his wand at him.

"What d'you want me to do?" Lockhart protested weakly. "I don't know where the Chamber of Secrets is. There's nothing I can do."

Tom immediately perked up when he heard that particular word come out of the imbecile's mouth.

"You're in luck," Harry said, forcing Lockhart to his feet at wandpoint. "We think we know where it is. And what's inside it. Let's go."

Tom sneered at the look of dread that flashed in Lockhart's beady eyes. His eyes widened upon seeing the ghost of a girl he was more than familiar with, especially considering Hadrian was very good friends with her. Myrtle Warren, he wondered if Hadrian had already prevented her death.

"Harry," Ron suggested, "Say something. Something in Parseltongue."

"But―" Harry broke off.

"Open up," he said.

"English," Ron said, shaking his head.

"Open up," Harry hissed.

Tom arched an eyebrow it seemed as though Hadrian had been true to his word at least about that, it was difficult for him to speak the language of the snakes.

The sink began moving; the sink, in fact, sank, right out of sight. It left a large pipe exposed, a pipe wide enough for a man to slide into.

"I'm going down there," Harry declared.

"Me too," Ron volunteered.

"Gryffindors," Tom sneered at the sentimentality.

Hadrian coughed and gave him a pointed look, he too was a Gryffindor. Tom merely flipped his hand, Hadrian did not count he should not have been in Gryffindor he was a Slytherin through and through.

"Well, you hardly seem to need me," Lockhart said with a shadow of a smile. "I'll just ―"

"You can go first," Ron snarled.

White-faced and wandless, Lockhart approached the opening.

"Boys," he said, his voice feeble, "Boys, what good will it do?"

Harry jabbed him in the back with his wand. Lockhart slid his legs into the mouth of the pipe.

"I really don't think ―" he started to say, but Ron gave him a push, and he slid out of sight. Harry followed quickly. He lowered himself slowly into the pipe, then let go.

"We must be miles under the school," Harry commented, his voice echoing in the black tunnel.

"Under the lake, probably," Ron said, squinting around at the dark, slimy walls.

"Lumos!" Harry muttered to his wand, and it lit again. "C'mon," he said to Ron and Lockhart, and off they went, their footsteps slapping loudly on the wet floor.

"Remember," Harry said quietly, as they walked cautiously forward, "Any sign of movement, close your eyes straight away…"

"Harry, there's something up there…" Ron said hoarsely.

"Maybe it's asleep," he breathed back at the other two.

"Blimey," Ron gasped weakly.

Suddenly there was a commotion, and Lockhart had Ron's broken wand.

"The adventure ends here, boys!" he said. "I shall take a bit of this skin back up to the school, tell them I was too late to save the girl, and you two tragically lost your minds at the sight of her mangled body. Say goodbye to your memories! Obliviate!" he added in a shout.

The wand exploded with the force of a small bomb. Harry flung his arms over his head and ran, slipping over the coils of snake skin, out of the way of great chunks of tunnel ceiling which were thundering to the floor. The next moment he was standing alone, gazing at a solid wall of broken rock.

"Ron!" he shouted. "Are you okay? Ron!"

"I'm here!" Ron shouted back, his voice muffled through the rock. "I'm okay. This git's not, though ― he got blasted by the wand. What now?" Ron's voice sounded desperate. "We can't get through; it'll take ages…"

"Wait there," Harry called to Ron. "Wait with Lockhart. I'll go on. If I'm not back in an hour…"

There was silence for ages after that.

"I'll try and shift some of this rock," Ron said; he seemed to be trying to keep his voice steady. "So you can ― can get back through. And, Harry ―"

"See you in a bit," Harry said, trying to sound confident.

Both Tom and Hadrian followed the twelve-year-old into the heart of the Chamber.

"Ginny!" Harry muttered, sprinting to her and dropping to his knees. "Ginny! Don't be dead! Please don't be dead!" He flung his wand aside, grabbed Ginny's shoulders and turned her over. Her face was white as marble, and as cold, yet her eyes were closed, so she wasn't Petrified. But then she must be…

"Ginny, please wake up," Harry muttered desperately, shaking her. Ginny's head lolled hopelessly from side to side.

He saw the boy standing at the end of a very long, dimly lit chamber. Towering stone pillars entwined with more caved serpents rose to support the ceiling lost in darkness, casting long black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place.

"She won't wake up," said a soft voice.

Tom visibly jerked at that, it was his voice after all, not like the one in the memory he'd just seen.

"Tom ― Tom Riddle?"

Tom blinked, so he hadn't changed his name in Hadrian's old future.

"What d'you mean, she won't wake?" Harry asked desperately "She's not ... she's not..." He was unable to form the sentence.

"She's still alive," Riddle said, "but only just."

"Are you a ghost?" Harry asked uncertainly.

"A Memory," Riddle said quietly, "preserved in a diary for fifty years."

Tom gaped, he had planned on using the diary to host a piece of his soul! He had done it then, judging by the badge upon his cloak pretty soon.

"You've got to help me, Tom," Harry said, raising Ginny's head again. "We've got to get her out of here. There's a Basilisk… I don't know where it is, but it could be along any moment. Please, help me…"

"Thanks," Harry said, stretching out his hand for his wand.

Hadrian closed his eyes and shook his head silently, closing his eyes at the naiveté of his twelve-year-old self. His hand placed over his eyes as if he could completely ignore what was happening.

"Listen," Harry said urgently, his knees sagging with Ginny's dead weight, "we've got to go! If the Basilisk comes…"

"It won't come until it's called," Riddle said calmly.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked. "Look, give me my wand, I might need it."

"You won't be needing it," Tom said.

"What d'you mean, I won't be ―?"

"I've waited a long time for this, Harry Potter," Riddle said. "For a chance to see you. To speak to you."

"Look," Harry said, losing his patience, "I don't think you get it. We're in the Chamber of Secrets. We can talk later."

"We're going to talk now," Riddle declared, still smiling broadly as he pocketed Harry's wand.

Tom just continued to watch completely enthralled by the sight in front of him.

"How did Ginny get like this?" Harry asked finally.

"Well, that's an interesting question," Riddle said pleasantly. "And quite a long story. I suppose the real reason Ginny Weasley's like this is because she opened her heart and spilled all her secrets to an invisible stranger."

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked in exasperation.

"The diary," Riddle said, "My diary. Little Ginny's been writing in it for months and months, telling me all her pitiful worries and woes: how her brothers tease her, how she had to come to school with second-hand robes and books, how ―" Riddle's eyes glinted "―How she didn't think her famous, good, great Harry Potter would ever like her…"

All the time he spoke, Riddle's eyes never left Harry's face. There was an almost hungry look in them.

"It was very boring, having to listen to the silly little troubles of an eleven-year-old girl," he went on. "But I was patient. I wrote back; I was sympathetic, I was kind. Ginny simply loved me. 'No one's ever understood me like you, Tom… I'm so glad I've got this diary to confide in… it's like having a friend I can carry around in my pocket'…" Riddle laughed.

"If I do say so myself, Harry, I've always been able to charm the people I needed. So Ginny poured out her soul to me, and her soul happened to be exactly what I wanted. I grew stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears, her darkest secrets. I grew powerful, far more powerful than little Miss Weasley. Powerful enough to start feeding Miss Weasley a few of my secrets, to start pouring my soul back into her…"

"What d'you mean?" Harry asked; his mouth had gone very dry.

"Haven't you guessed yet, Harry Potter?" Riddle asked softly. "Ginny Weasley opened the Chamber of Secrets. She strangled the school roosters and daubed threatening messages on the walls. She set the serpent of Slytherin on four Mudbloods, and the Squib's cat."

"No," whispered Harry.

"Yes," Riddle calmly said. "Of course, she didn't know what she was doing at first. It was very amusing. I wish you could have seen her new diary entries… far more interesting, they became… 'losing my memory. There are rooster feathers all over my robes and I don't know how they got there. Dear Tom, I can't remember what I did on the night of Halloween, but a cat was attacked and I've got paint on myself. I think he suspects me… there was another attack today; I'm going mad… think I'm the one attacking everyone, Tom!'"

"It took a very long time for stupid little Ginny to stop trusting her diary," Riddle said, "But she finally became suspicious and tried to dispose of it. And that's where you came in, Harry. You found it, and I couldn't have been more delighted. Of all the people who could have picked it up, it was you, the very person I was most anxious to meet…"

"And why did you want to meet me?" Harry asked, anger coursing through him, showing in those glowing emerald eyes.

"Well, you see, Ginny told me all about you, Harry," Riddle replied. "Your whole fascinating history." Riddle's eyes shot straight to his lightning bolt scar and his expression grew hungrier.

"I knew I must find out more about you, talk to you, meet you if I could. So I decided to show you my famous capture of that great oaf, Hagrid, to gain your trust."

"Hagrid is my friend," Harry said, his voice now shaking. "And you framed him, didn't you? I thought you made a mistake, but ―"

Riddle laughed his high-pitched laugh again.

"It was my word against Hagrid's, Harry. Well, you can imagine how it looked to old Armando Dippet. On the one hand, Tom Riddle, poor but brilliant, parentless but so brave, school prefect, model student; on the other hand, big, blundering Hagrid, in trouble every other week, trying to raise werewolf cubs under his bed, sneaking off to the Forbidden Forest to wrestle trolls. But I admit even I was surprised at how well the plan worked. I thought someone must realise Hagrid couldn't possibly be the heir of Slytherin. It had taken me five whole years to find out everything I could about the Chamber of Secrets and discover the secret entrance… as though Hagrid had the brains, or the power!"

"Only the Transfiguration teacher, Dumbledore, seemed to think Hagrid was innocent. He persuaded Dippet to keep Hagrid here and train him as gamekeeper. Yes, I think Dumbledore might have guessed. Dumbledore never seemed to like me as much as the other teachers did…"

"I bet Dumbledore saw right through you," Harry said, his teeth gritted.

"Well, he certainly kept an annoyingly close watch on me after Hagrid was expelled," Riddle carelessly said. "I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school. But I wasn't going to waste those long years I'd spent searching for it. I decided to leave behind a diary, preserving my sixteen-year-old self in its pages, so that one day, with luck, I would be able to lead another in my footsteps, finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work."

"Well, you haven't finished it," Harry told him triumphantly "No one's died this time, not even the cat. In a few hours the Mandrake Draught will be ready, and everyone who was petrified will be all right again."

"Haven't I already told you," Riddle quietly said, "that killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore? For many months now, my new target has been... you. Imagine how angry I was when next time my diary opened, it was Ginny who was writing to me, not you. She saw you with the diary, you see, and panicked. What if you found out how to work it and I repeated all her secrets to you? What if, even worse, I told you who'd been strangling the roosters? So the foolish little brat waited until your dormitory was deserted and stole it back. But I knew what I must do. It was clear to me that you were on the trail of Slytherin's heir. From everything Ginny had told me about you, I knew you would go to any lengths to solve the mystery... particularly if one of your best friends was attacked. And Ginny had told me the whole school was buzzing because you could speak Parseltongue…"

"So I made Ginny write her own farewell on the wall and come down here to wait. She struggled and cried and became very boring. But there isn't much life left in her: she put too much into the diary, into me. Enough to let me leave its pages at last. I have been waiting for you to appear since we arrived here. I knew you'd come. I have many questions for you, Harry Potter."

"Like what?" Harry spat nastily.

"Well," Riddle said, still smiling pleasantly, "How is it that a baby with no extraordinary magical talent managed to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar, while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?"

There was an odd red gleam in Riddle's eyes now.

"Why do you care how I escaped?" Harry slowly asked. "Voldemort was after your time."

"Voldemort," said Riddle, "is my past, present, and future, Harry Potter." Shimmering words were quickly traced through the air.

TOM MARVOLO RIDDLE

Tom waved the wand once and the letters rearranged themselves.

I AM LORD VOLDEMORT

"You see?" he whispered "It was a name I was already using at Hogwarts— to my most intimate friends only, of course. You think I was going to use my filthy Muggle father's name forever? I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself, through my mother's side? I, keep the name of a foul common Muggle, who abandoned me even before I was born, just because he found out his wife was a witch? No, Harry. I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!"

"You're not," Harry contradicted, his voice full of hatred that Tom flinched at hearing.

"Not what?" snapped Riddle.

"Not the greatest sorcerer in the world," Harry said, breathing fast "Sorry to disappoint you, and all that, but the greatest wizard in the world is Albus Dumbledore. Everyone says so. Even when you were strong, you didn't dare try and take over Hogwarts. Dumbledore saw through you when you were at school, and he still frightens you now, wherever you're hiding these days."

"Dumbledore has been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me!" Riddle hissed.

"He's not gone as you might think!" Harry retorted.

"I was trying to scare him," admitted the fourteen-year-old, shrugging his shoulders.

Tom turned to Hadrian but he wasn't looking at the scene in front of him, but away. Tom, frowning, followed Hadrian's line of vision, but nothing was there… then he heard it, then saw the flash of light as a phoenix came. "It's Fawkes, a phoenix, Dumbledore doesn't have him yet, he must get him after his 'defeat' of Grindelwald."

"That's a phoenix…" Riddle said.

"Fawkes," Harry breathed.

"And that's the old school Sorting Hat."

The laughter started up again, sending goosebumps up their necks and arms. "This is what Dumbledore sends his defender?! A songbird and an old hat! Do you feel brave, Harry Potter? Do you feel safe now?"

Harry never did answer.

"To business, Harry," Riddle said. "Twice ― in your past, in my future ― we have met. And twice I failed to kill you. How did you survive? Tell me everything. The longer you talk," he added softly, "the longer you stay alive."

"No one knows why you lost your powers when you attacked me," Harry said abruptly. "I don't know myself, but I do know why you couldn't kill me. Because my mother died to save me. My common, Muggle-born mother," he added, shaking with suppressed rage. "She stopped you from killing me, and I've seen the real you; I saw you last year. You're a wreck. You're barely alive. That's where all your power got you. You're in hiding. You're ugly; you're foul!"

"So. Your mother died to save you. Yes, that's a powerful counter-charm. I can see now ― there is nothing special about you after all. I wondered, you see. Because there are strange likenesses between us, Harry Potter. Even you must have noticed. Both half-bloods, orphans, raised by Muggles. Probably the only Parselmouths to come to Hogwarts since the great Slytherin himself. We even look something alike… but after all, it was merely a lucky chance that saved you from me. That's all I wanted to know."

"Now, Harry, I'm going to teach you a little lesson. Let's match the powers of Lord Voldemort, heir of Salazar Slytherin, against the famous Harry Potter, and the best weapons Dumbledore can give him," Riddle said.

"Speak to me, Slytherin, greatest of the Hogwarts Four," Tom hissed out the password in Parseltongue. Everyone conscious in the pensive of course understood.

Tom watched, horror-struck, as the humongous serpent began going after Hadrian…no Harry, watching as he fell, as the phoenix began attacking the Basilisk's eyes, stopping it from ever petrifying or killing anything again. Listening to his Horcrux scream for the basilisk to leave the bird, to kill the boy, telling it to smell― not even screeching it in Parseltongue so he could understand it. watching as the twelve-year-old beg for help that would never come. He opened his eyes again and saw the boy had a sword in his hand, the sword of Godric Gryffindor, true to Harry's word. He was running wildly, a basilisk lunging at him every few seconds. He saw him raising the sword high above him, and it did indeed penetrate the basilisk's mouth. He also saw the fang sink into the vulnerable flesh of the twelve-year-old's upper arm.

"You're dead, Harry Potter," Riddle gloated. "Dead. Even Dumbledore's bird knows it. Do you see what he's doing, Potter? He's crying. I'm going to sit here and watch you die, Harry Potter; take your time. I'm in no hurry. So ends the famous Harry Potter," Riddle added, his voice now sounding distant. "Alone in the Chamber of Secrets, forsaken by his friends, defeated at last by the Dark Lord he so unwisely challenged. You'll be back with your dear Mudblood mother soon, Harry… she bought you twelve years of borrowed time… but Lord Voldemort got you in the end, as you knew he must."

"Get away, bird!" Riddle's voice suddenly said. "Get away from him! I said, get away!"

"Phoenix tears…" Riddle quietly said. "Of course… healing powers… I forgot…"

He then looked back at Harry and said "But it makes no difference. In fact, I prefer it this way. Just you and me, Harry Potter… you and me…"

That was all Harry needed; he took the fang from the side of him where he had discarded it. With a snarl he brought it down against the dairy. Black ink began spilling out, Harry ignoring every scream Tom Riddle let loose. As quickly as he was there… he was gone.

Both of them gasped as they were evicted from the pensive.

Chapter End Notes

Okay what do you think? Honestly? I'm mixed myself, on one hand i don't think Tom's reacting BADLY enough on the other hand this is how it's getting written out...is his reactions appropriate? Should it be more dramatic? I'm torn...it's up to you to decide whether this large chapter gets an edit or not! :D and of course it goes without saying some parts are pieces from Harry Potter 1 & Harry Potter 2 I do hope you enjoyed it though...I think i'll give it another read and see if i can find what's bothering me...what other memories would you like Tom to see? and will he remember everything to get revenge in the future whether things work out or not? :P R&R Please

I hope you don't get too confused between the memory scenes since there's no way to make them go bold like I can on FF...at least not easily.