Harry picked the letter up, and began to read the letter, which by the way had been sent through the Muggle post - no wonder it had taken so long. He had to admit it was probably the best thing to do, sending it through Muggle means that was, at least no owl would have been risked, it depressed him just thinking about it. He'd been very attached to his own owl, who had died, Merlin he hoped to get her again one day, his beautiful snowy Hedwig. Unfortunately that wouldn't happen for fifty years, that's if she was around then who knew what would happen between now and then. He was looking forward to finding out, just as long as he got out of here. Slughorn had given his permission, stating that he would pick them up at six PM on the dot and they were to be ready. It was today, he realized looking at the date, and August 14th obviously Slughorn hadn't realized how long it would take for the letter to get to them. It was a good thing they were mostly already packed, although they'd need to make a show of leaving with their trunks in full view leaving without them would be suspicious.
"Does Cole know?" Harry asked, staring at Tom who he realized had sat down and was quickly eating looking vaguely excited. He knew the only thing keep him unexcited was the fact he felt like a charity case Tom never relied on anyone, and he knew the thought probably left a sour taste in his mouth. Why he was going through with it though was a mystery, he had usual scenarios where Tom absolutely refused, yet he was coming with him. It truly baffled him and for once Harry wished he had even a smallest chance of reading Tom's thoughts, just too see what was going on in that brilliant mind of his.
At this point in time it was probably a good thing he couldn't.
"Yes, Professor Slughorn told me to give her a letter and once she finished reading it she dismissed me," Tom said smoothly, "Although if the Air Raid Siren goes, we've got to go with them, she isn't risking him not appearing on time or us ending up hurt." he sneered disdainfully.
"Was she being untruthful?" Harry pointed out seriously. Sliding the letter which he'd put back in the envelope over to Tom, it was his after all.
Tom grimaced, "No," he muttered grudgingly, before drinking his apple juice. His mind whirling on how to get back at the boys, the three of them had to pay. In hurting Hadrian they may as well have targeted him, and that was just unacceptable. He had just an idea on how to do that, it was just doing it without Hadrian any the wiser. Seen as he seemed to know him a little too well, it would need to be last minute and he would have to be extra cautious and sneaky about it. Then he figured out the perfect solution, absolutely perfect. He had to prevent the vindictive leer appearing on his face, they would regret it for months to come. His dark eyes sparkled in devious merriment he couldn't wait to do it.
Harry nodded letting it go without being smug about it, which would just turn Tom defensive and put him in a sour mood - at least until Slughorn came at any rate. At least something good had come out of being here, it helped him understand Tom better, like Death had predicted but also let him show Tom that Muggles weren't bad or weak but strong and resilient in the face of adversary. He wasn't sure if he had exactly gotten through to him or not but at least he could say he tried. He didn't want to change Tom just show him a different view on things and maybe let it change the future too. It didn't take them long to finish their rationed dinner both of them in exceedingly good moods compared to an hour ago.
"I wonder what time it is now…" Harry mused, looking around for a sign of a clock; he needed to get a watch, especially if he was in these kinds of situations where he couldn't cast the spell to tell him.
"At least five thirty," Tom commented, dinner was served at five; he assumed at least half an hour had gone by since then.
"Then we have half an hour to kill," Harry said, "I think it's best if we get everything sorted now," he always was packed ahead of time when it came to leaving somewhere. Whether it was leaving the Dursley's or Hogwarts or the unmentionable - The Burrow. "You finished?" knowing he was.
Tom nodded curtly, still distracted by everything he wanted to do, he rarely used his Wandless magic, correction, he rarely used it now since entering Hogwarts. Having been under the impression his magic could be tracked and there was one thing he'd never risk and that was expulsion from Hogwarts. He'd had no idea about the magic that was keeping him safe from detection, so he could use his Wandless magic if he wanted to - and he definitely did.
Now to get away from Hadrian without arousing suspicion.
"Let's go," Tom said in agreement, once Hadrian had ambled back after putting the trays, plates, cups and cutlery away.
"Finally going to get a decent nights sleep," Harry said gleefully as they wandered up the stairs, both of them thrumming with excitement. "Hopefully Slughorn wont tell Dumbledore because I will be pissed if he does."
Tom just shook his head at Hadrian's display of emotion and words; he didn't believe Dumbledore would be a problem during the summer holidays. No, if anything he didn't want to think on the suspicious old man, even with Hadrian discussing it he truly didn't understand Dumbledore's problem with him. So what if he had good control over his magic? So what if he was powerful? Dumbledore was as well! He couldn't be that scared of other powerful wizards could he? It made no sense, but he didn't really care for making sense out of Dumbledore he doubted even if he understood him that it would make everything better - in fact he'd bet it would make it worse. He often thought it was more to do with his ability to speak Parseltongue than anything else.
"Do you know a lot about the Slytherin line?" Tom asked as they got to their level.
"A bit, why what do you want to know?" Harry enquired opening the door to their room.
"Have they all been considered evil?" Tom demanded.
"Well…" Harry said thoughtfully, "In my time there was students who said that there wasn't a single Parselmouth that was good…I was accused of being evil when I was twelve years old but I think it was more to do with the recent generations than past ones. I mean the entire line is made of extremely powerful wizards, Tom, and you know what they say about powerful wizards - they make enemies, I wouldn't be surprised if they'd done a lot of good things in the magical world but there's just some idiots who are so deeply prejudice that they can't see through it. It gets worse down the line, I know of a few surprising couples that will come out in the next few years…and by that I mean really surprising so it's obviously not too bad here and now. I think you're also mixing up the characters of dark and evil, they aren't one in the same."
"You obviously mean Gryffindors and Slytherins then?" Tom said shrewdly.
Harry grinned and nodded as he packed, he was just so smart that Harry felt envious of his bloody brilliant mind. He could spend a lifetime getting to know him yet never be able to work out how that mind worked, he was a genius and Merlin the changes he could make to the magical world was extensive, bring them into a whole new era of understanding magic using it without prejudice. Yet the route he had taken was doomed to fail from the beginning. What caused it? What had been the catalyst to turn Tom into a stark raving lunatic since it was quite obvious he wasn't one right now. He was angry bitter and jaded but not to the extent he wanted to kill…it had to happen within the next year right? Since it was exactly a year to the day when Myrtle was killed in the original timeline. He said original because Myrtle had no reason to be there so she wouldn't be killed. Death would be able to tell him, he could see everything, what had been, what could be, what will be.
'What do you want to know?'Death asked, making his way in that creepy manner into Harry's mind so they could communicate.
'What turns Tom completely? Why does he kill Myrtle?'Harry questioned.
'He had no intention of killing anyone, her death was entirely accidental but he did use her death for a purpose in the end leading to the belief that he had intended to kill her. She is a Warren, half-blood or not she was never supposed to be a target only the Muggle-born's who were prejudice against the Slytherins were targeted.'Death replied. It had been a case of wrong place wrong time, quite literally.
'Do the Horcruxes make him unstable?'Harry enquired.
'To begin with they make him easier to anger, the first one makes no difference to his mind or looks,'Death revealed, 'It is later Horcruxes and rituals that make him unstable, it made him desire more power, drew him in, the more rituals he did and more Horcrux he created the less magic he had at his disposal, nothing noticeable at first, but he soon realized he couldn't do Wandless magic the way he used to, in his state he believed it to be a necessary sacrifice to attain immortality. That was until he was faced with you, an enemy with stable raw magic at his disposal, in his mind he believed the Death stick was the answer to his troubles. He fell to the allure that so many others did and it only led to their deaths. Only one person can possibly gain more power from the Elder wand and that is you.'
'I did wonder about that, he's capable of so much, even I know I wouldn't be guaranteed to beat him'Harry nodded his agreement.
Death only chuckled, with his ordinary Wizarding magic that might be true, they were equals on that ground, but with Harry's Master Powers he was unbeatable, just as the wand lore foretold. Even Tom was beginning to realize that Harry wasn't to be messed with, it's what was drawing the wizard to Harry at first, that and his looks and mind. Tom might dismiss things that annoy him about Harry, but most of the time he was just as fascinated by Harry's mind as Harry was with his. It was amusing to observe, the next year at Hogwarts was going to be…renewing for both of them to say the least.
'Should I tell him about the Horcruxes and what they do? I don't want him to end up creating them again, he's so scared of death that I'm afraid I might not even be able to convince him that it's the wrong move to make'Harry said regretfully. He cared very much for Tom but if he started mutilating his soul? He honestly didn't know what he would do…for his own sake and safety he would need to back away before the wizard saw him as a threat and tried to kill him. He'd barely survived being stabbed in the back by his so called friends…he couldn't live through it again, he just couldn't.
'I wouldn't suggest doing that just yet, I'll let you know if and when it needs to be done'Death informed him, and he would know after all - he was Death and his grand design showed him all things. Tom was protective and possessive now, but it was nothing on what it would be in a year's time, which was when it was necessary to prevent it. By then both of them would be enamoured and have a heavily invested sense of worth when it came to each other and the need to be what the other expected. To be worthy.
'Alright, so it was just Horcruxes and rituals that pushed him over the edge?'Harry felt there was so much more to it.
'Did you ever outgrow the belief that you were a freak easily? Even now you sometimes think of yourself in that manner…what do you think Tom felt whenever the students believed him and the other Slytherins were evil especially when a powerful wizard was always so suspicious of him?'Death pointed out grimly. He would find his own way to punish the Dursley's for that, although they had been punished by him during their other life while Harry was on the run. He had always watched over him, but until he had accepted being Master of Death he hadn't been able to communicate with him. 'He became what everyone expected him to be, his instability didn't help matters at all.'
'I see…'Harry replied darkly, he hated that term with a passion. He didn't think for a second Tom would ever be a light wizard, but it seemed there was hope to keep the brilliant wizard in front of him here and whole after all.
'You better finish getting ready, Slughorn will be there for you just moments after the siren,' Death informed him once more before he slid from Harry's mind. Amused by the plotting of Tom Riddle, yes, he wasn't a kind entity, rarely did he find much amusing but seeing how possessive he was and how he went about getting revenge was always fun to watch as long as it didn't involve Harry.
Harry finished putting everything away, and tapped Tom's trunk which was on the floor miniaturised - although not for long. They were leaving, he was so ecstatic; he could only imagine how Tom had felt after eleven years in this place. Well nearly twelve actually since he had started Hogwarts a year later due to his eleventh birthday being after Hogwarts started. "I can't wait to go to Gringotts, I want to see if I can win more money," he chuckled darkly, ecstatically.
He was so lost in his own thoughts that he failed to notice Tom's reaction to his seductive amusement.
"You're actually going to do that?" Tom asked, straightening up disapproval written across his face. This look usually had everyone bending over backwards to accommodate what he actually wanted done.
"Of course, not too much to begin with just in case you're right," Harry shrugged flippantly, he had meant to ask Death but as usual he always forgot something when speaking to the…er man? Being? Either way, he just got so distracted by the information he was receiving to remember everything. "I'm not going to bring unwarranted suspicion on me, just enough money to get everything I need."
Tom barely refrained from gaping, not only was Hadrian acknowledging that he might be right but he was still going to do it. Oh, he didn't know why he tried with him; he would always do what he wanted anyway. Despite his inward grumbling he found it difficult to keep the smirk of his face - it's probably why he liked the teen so much he wasn't like everyone else. He didn't bow and cower to his demands, wasn't afraid of him or his power, the rush of challenge in those green eyes, during classes, the amusement he got from various things he was such a Slytherin but there were parts of his personality that just didn't mesh with the rest of the Slytherins. Maybe because he didn't care about the hierarchy within Slytherin or saving face or perhaps because he had grown up in a different time? There were so many different possibilities it was hard to really pin point the most likely one. Maybe it was a combination of all of them at the end of the day.
"What exactly will they accuse you off?" Tom sneered derisively, after all they could never guess he truth.
"The goblins are smarter than everyone gives them credit for, master craftsmen and shrewd nose for business. Who do you think made all those purebloods as wealthy as they are? It certainly wasn't them all the time." Harry pointed out seriously, "Surely you've noticed they spend way too much for the salaries they get? That's if they even have proper jobs, trust them and give them the respect they deserve and they will do anything to ensure your gold triples in value. They've got the crap end of a deal, but they are fighters and so far they've fought for what they believed in and won multiple times."
"That is only because the Ministers have no backbone and back down." Tom said dismissively.
"Do you really believe any magical creature deserves to be treated like second class citizens?" Harry asked seriously, standing in the middle of the room his things already packed feeling a debate coming on. "That the have no right to a wand and the proper ability to defend themselves? I don't want to know what the others have told you, I want your opinion on them." he added as an afterthought.
Tom narrowed his eyes at the implication that anyone could or would manipulate him, "What makes you think it is not my opinion?"
"I guess I had hoped someone as smart as you would be able to see it objectively at least," Harry said shrugging his shoulders. "I mean have you even met a goblin? Been to Gringotts? Or does your money come with your letter?"
"Of course I've been to Gringotts," Tom snapped, irate and defensive about his pittance he got to buy his school things. "I get a voucher with my letter that allows me to withdraw money from the Hogwarts funds for students."
"I guess your charm didn't work on them?" Harry suddenly chuckled wickedly, as realisation hit, "Goblins wont react to charm, they don't trust wizards, they respect people who are curt, demanding untrusting yet willing to give some leeway, more importantly they respect power and money and those who study goblin customs. To try and suck up to them they see it as a great insult, it's why Dumbledore never gets anywhere with them despite the fact he fought for creatures freedoms. Or rather tried to, I mean everyone listened to him if he wanted it done…it should have worked."
Tom turned away to stop Hadrian seeing the bemused grin working its way on his face, he wanted to stay angry but it just seemed impossible. He knew it should irritate him how Hadrian knew him so well, yet it didn't, it made him feel smug, for reasons he couldn't fathom. Lugging his trunk up he began to make his way out of the room, the book he'd conveniently left under his pillow ready for him to 'suddenly remember' and grab so he could enact his revenge before they left for the rest of the summer holidays. He did catalogue what Hadrian said about the goblins and filed it away for further thinking. He had been un-waveringly polite to them, just like he was with everyone around him…well the adults and those idiots at school at least he thought with dark vindication.
They'd just began to thump their trunks carefully down the stairs when the Air Raid Siren went off, causing Tom to grunt inaudibly his eyes narrowing slightly in his frustration. He wasn't spending another night in this world when freedom was so close within his grasp, he absolutely refused. Professor Slughorn had better get here soon, if not he was liable to lose his temper very soon and he wasn't famous for having much control over it.
"I wonder where he will appear, he didn't say exactly where to meet him," Harry said thoughtfully.
"If he comes in time," Tom corrected his tone bland.
"Has he ever been late?" Harry shouted curiously, he'd never once been late for a Potions class that he had seen. If anything Slughorn was always available with anyone that needed him even outside of school hours. He was always overly eager for companionship, perhaps because he hadn't taken a wife and he ended up lonely? Then again he was assuming Slughorn was attracted to the opposite gender apposed to his own…being gay here might be a bad thing he hadn't really thought about it. He had absolutely no idea; he'd never investigated that particular occurrence, here or in the future. The thumping of their trunks was hidden by the loud blaring coming from the nearest police station - at least that's where he assumed the air raid sirens were but that might just be rumours.
"Actually, no, not in all the time I've known him, even sick he just takes potions and gets on with his day, he's never been late or absent." Tom confessed in surprise as if he'd just realized for the first time the dedication of his Potions professor and Head of House.
"Well that's a good thing since its four minutes to six, it will take a few more minutes for everyone to finish getting ready and grabbing their packed lunch." Harry said louder than he intended but with the siren going on and off he couldn't quite tell how low or loud he was talking.
Tom glanced at the clock in the hallway shocked; he hadn't realized just how little time he had to see it through. He might only get to enact half his revenge; still it would have long lasting repercussions. "Damn it, I forgot your book, go outside and wait I'll meet you in a few seconds." Tom said, putting on the self-disgust and irritation at seeing the look of surprise and suspicion on Hadrian's face. Yes, he definitely knew him too well he thought as he ran up the stairs, he continued hearing Hadrian dragging both trunks out before the siren began again quickly summoning the book once he saw nobody around and began to enact his revenge at long last.
Hadrian pondered whether it had been a genuine accident, but he didn't think so, Tom was meticulous, in fact he would go so far as to say he suffered from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to some degree. He was always neat and tidy, especially his trunk, clothes and room even the Dorm. The others didn't keep it untidy, although that might be because of the room inspections Slughorn pulled. He couldn't see any other reason for wanting to go back, Tom was desperate to get out of the orphanage, desperate enough that he'd given up what he probably saw as a substantial amount of his pride to accomplish it. A Slytherin did not like to be in the debt of another especially a Slytherin.
Shaking off his absurd thoughts, it was just a forgotten book, not everything he would do would have a reason behind it, but he knew better than to truly dismiss his feelings on the matter. Was it really pertinent? No, they were leaving, but they were coming back eventually, so whatever Tom was planning had better be good without arousing suspicion on him. He snorted at that thought, Voldemort quite literally got away with murder for fifty years, he could pull whatever he wanted here and get away with it - of course he could and would.
He spotted Slughorn ambling through the gate, looking very at ease (which was unexpected especially with a bloody Air Raid Siren going) wearing a black suit, very Muggle and he actually looked really nice in it too. He didn't have the belly bulge he would definitely in the future. His hair was one colour instead of black and white in places, and he just had exuberance around him that he hadn't in his time. Weighed down with loyalty and guilt it had torn the proud man to pieces, there was no denying he was a Slytherin through and through and not just as a Head of House. He constantly found himself surprised when he saw the wizard after a couple of day's absence. He kept expecting to see the wizard he would become not the young-ish wizard he was.
Harry quickly thumped the trunks down the remaining steps; ignoring the curious and questioning looks the others were giving him and his professor. "Ah, Hadrian, glad you were so prompt in being ready!" Horace said smiling at the teen, albeit slightly confused; Tom was never one to be late. "Is everything alright with Tom?" naturally alarmed thinking he was hurt.
"No, professor, he's fine, he'll be right here, he's just doing something real quick since he was had to," Harry informed him, deliberately misleading him into thinking he was doing something for an adult. Hopefully Tom wouldn't come out with the book in full view, not that he thought Slughorn would care.
"Now do you both have enough money to stay there for the remainder of the holidays?" Slughorn questioned, gazing at Hadrian seriously, letting the seriousness of his question seep in before he answered.
"Of course, Professor!" Harry said gasping in feigned offence, "I'm not a thief! I would never do such a thing." well that wasn't feigned he really wouldn't steal - it wasn't worth the stigma attached to it.
"Oh, ho! My boy, I didn't mean to imply as such, I just wanted to be sure," Slughorn said patting at his arms smiling patiently. His sharp eyes momentarily gazing at the children who were all lined up, packed lunches on them pillows and throws and walking together. One woman in particular looked back at Hadrian and himself he observed, before nodding and continuing her journey to what he assumed was a shelter.
Harry stared down at the floor sheepishly, "Sorry professor," he said before glancing at the orphanage curiously, where the bloody hell was he? He couldn't keep distracting him forever. Harry exhaled in relief when he saw Tom coming out; there wasn't a book visible on him, had he used Wandless magic? He hoped so; he couldn't risk that book being found by Muggles or the professors at school.
"Professor Slughorn," Tom said politely in way of greeting.
"Come boys, we must depart as quickly as possible now," said Slughorn not leaving the orphanage but going further in, a few seconds later they knew they were heading for cover - into the forest.
'Did you get it?' Harry mouthed from behind Tom as he allowed the other teen to take back his own trunk.
Tom just smirked without mouthing anything, he was sure his point was already across.
It was, Hadrian relaxed and they quickly kept up with their teacher, eager as always to get out of here - especially know there was bombs going to be dropping any second now.