Paradox

by Doctor Writer M.D

"How is it even possible, that he's possible?" Harry, Ron and Hermione glance over to the boy sitting on the chair in front of them. "There can't be two of him." Hermione continued. "There isn't, Miss. Granger." Dumbledore mused looking at them through his half-moon spectacles. " When Lord Voldemort split his soul, all the good part of him did not just disappear.

1. Chapter 1

"So who was it?" That was the first thing that Tom asked Harry as he entered the Ward.

Ron was sitting next to the Petrified Hermione, and Tom was further away reading a book which now laid on the chair face down.

His eyes were expected.

"I'll tell you later." Harry said softly while moving towards Hermione.

---

"So who was it?" Tom posed the question Harry have been dreaded once again when they were in the Gryffindor common room.

Harry wanted to use the excuse of a crowded common room to delay the question once again, but as he glanced around, he could see that the common room was quite empty except for Ron, Tom, and him.

He could see the strong curiosity in Tom's eyes and a glimpse of it in Ron's eyes also.

He knew that he would eventually have to tell them. They were his best mates, and they will not stop bugging him until they got an answer.

"His name was Tom." Harry started, looking directly at Tom. He could see that Ron too was staring at Tom.

"Tom Riddle opened the chamber of secrets." Harry finished.

---

The empty common room got more silent. Harry could hear the crackle of the flames in the fireplace.

He waited for something to happen. For Tom to say something. For Ron to say anything.

Ron burst out with laughter and manage to choke out words "Really...funny...mate." between his laugh.

However, Tom was not laughter. He looked actually quite serious.

"I opened the chamber of secrets?" Tom asked in a toneless voice as if he wanted Harry to confirm it.

"No." Harry replied immediately." It was not you. Just someone who had the same name as you and looked a bit similar."

This was the only explanation that Harry could arrive at. It couldn't be Tom. It would make no sense.

Ron had stopped laughing and was now looking between Harry and Tom.

"You mean like a doppelganger?" Tom replied.

This was yet another one of Tom's fancy word that Harry nor Ron understood.

"A counterpart - a double - of me," Tom explained.

"I guess so," Harry answered. "He was not you. He was also older."

The Tom Riddle in the chamber wasn't his best friend. Harry was sure. His best friend wasn't Lord Voldemort. His best friend did not murder his parents, and his best friend didn't try to murder him when he was a baby.