Wizard Under The Troll Bridge
Abby Ebon
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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; as to Hellboy, I've rarely read anything for it, though I enjoyed the movies very much …which was what inspired me to write this story, so – really – you've only your own success to blame if you disapprove and are somehow official.
Note; …Mmm, Happy Valentines Day; you get a double post of chapter for this story!
Beta(s):
wolf-shinigami, (as of 10/19/09) who has done a fantastic job of fixing up some of my errors I missed along the way.
artscribler, (as of 10/26/09) who really is great about keeping me from rambling a sentence into endless babble.
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There Are Worse Habits
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He did not know if it was the oath or if sleepless night had finally caught up with him, but he did sleep – dreamlessly.
It was a small relief.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
His memories were bad enough.
A diary – his life blood was on its cover. He was dying. Still, he sensed the familiarity of it. The yearning for a companion who would accept him; still, it had frightened him, the possibility. Now he felt something like the sting of betrayal. It was not his own. Yet it came from within him. It came from the diary.
He felt then, as if he was a stranger in his own body. Or that a stranger was in his body.
Tom?
It was an impossible thought, yet his eyes half closed, with his blood seeping out of him, it was not so unreasonable.
*Yes…?*
It had not been his thought. Ginny was still laid out on the floor. No one else could have said anything.
How…?
*I am Tom Riddle. I am Lord Voldemort. When we met – the first time, when you were a baby – I...I think I really died. Yet, a fragment of my soul, my power, survived…in you.*
It was whisper soft – compelling, bemused – Harry felt himself smiling, even as his vision dimmed. He could not see the fang impaled in his shoulder, the blood welling up and out of the wound. It was a small relief.
You are a bit of his soul too. You aren't real.
Harry didn't feel the burning of the poison anymore, or the pain of the wound. It was all vague, hazy – a dull ache as he drifted, feeling free. It was illusion. He knew he was dying.
*I'm as real as you are now. You are dying, half gone. I can save you. I can tell you secrets. I can pull you back. Together…we will be whole. I do not want to die, Harry, do you?*
It was a long silence, Harry felt himself drifting. He felt something in the dark look at him. Then he made the mistake, looking back.
No. I do not want to die. Please…do not let me die, Tom.
He felt the wicked glee that was not his own. Knowledge seeped into him, like his blood was pouring out. It seemed as if it would be a trade. He felt magic – power – that was not his own pooling with his – mixing, merging, becoming something that was not him – but it was not Tom either.
Tom was gone – but his knowledge, his power he had left behind. His soul merging with Harry. He realized the horrible truth, as he heard a wailing cry that made him flinch.
He was Tom. He was Harry. He was both, he was neither.
He was broken.
Mad.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Harry knew (he knew a lot of things now, but this – like the rest of it – was because of Tom, who he could not think of as Voldemort – least he decide to end his life with the knowledge and power of the most feared Dark Lord. How long did he have until he became the likeness of the murderer of his parents?) no living being was supposed to support the soul of another – or their magic, at least, not for very long.
Harry would die. Or live forever. Tom was never very sure of that. Harry (and Tom) did know now how the soul of Tom Riddle had fractured into the diary – and into him. He was a living Horcrux; which was supposed to be impossible. Yet, obviously, was not. Tom was also fairly certain that Harry had basilisk venom in his blood – it was stabilized only by the raw flex and flow of his duel magic.
Tom was fascinated with him.
Harry had nightmares of Severus somehow finding all this out and deciding to dissect him. Tom had been more than a little amused. Then, to the courtesy of Voldemort, Harry had a vision. It was vague, and violent, and painful. Tom had recognized what was happening; another Horcrux.
It was a possibility that neither of them had considered; how much had Voldemort fractured (or shattered…?) his original soul? Someone sane might do it only twice – only Voldemort had proved he was not exactly "sane." Tom at first had thought that he was making it out to be worse than it was, until he had Harry's memories and had seen the vision for himself.
Tom had likened it to a diamond – lovely as something pulled up naturally from the earth, yet someone who laid hands on it saw only what perfections it could be, not as they were. So, tragically, they cut off what made the diamond unique, perfections and imperfections all. Harry had been a bit amused that Tom had compared himself willingly to something as feminine as a diamond. Still, Tom was admitting without saying he had made a mistake – it was worth remembering.
Still the question haunted Harry, always lingering in the back of his mind. Tom had admitted to it being possible; but while he did, he never said what to look for to find other Horcrux. He kept his silence until the vision. Someone else had died, and another fragment of soul had a living vessel. Nagini.
Harry had a place to look; Riddle manor. Tom knew where it was. Harry had insisted they go.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
*This is a very foolish thing to do.* Tom had whispered to him, as Harry sat in the back of a taxi. He ignored, not for the first time, the open ended offer of a chance to turn back with Tom not thinking any less of him. This wasn't about Tom. Harry knew he was dying (or, worse – that he would live forever) that did not give him much time to cripple Voldemort.
*Why do I bother, silly Gryffindor, you'll kill us both, do you not see that?* Tom snarled and snarked, but Harry remained unresponsive. In a strange way, Tom was his friend – admittedly a back-stabbing one who had too much of an ego, and just enough knowledge to be brilliant yet flawed by those who had hurt him. Tom was like Harry – a child – yet Tom wanted revenge. Harry only wanted this ended.
Tom tried guilt next, knowing that Harry thought of him as a friend.
*Do you want to kill me – to kill yourself, you coward? Is that it? It is, isn't it!?*
Harry still did not answer or respond very much. Tom was silent – Harry thought he might have given up. He should have known better, still, Tom surprised him when he spoke up next.
*Ask him to pull over.*
Harry blinked in surprise, glancing at the road they were on – it was dirt, and the surrounding – which were mostly nothing impressive. Still, there was something in Tom's tone that told Harry that he would be a fool to ignore it. This place was strangely – disconnectedly – familiar.
Why…?
Harry did not know if he was asking this of Tom or asking this of the feeling. Still, it was Tom that answered.
*If we – as you so determine – are going to be killed, I'd rather like you to know my ancestry…my mother lived around here, please Harry.*
"Pull over. I just want a look around here. I'll be back in a bit." Harry finally spoke up, the driver stopped, more than willing to indulge the boy who was giving him gold coins for a trip across the country.
Harry got out, and let Tom lead (it was uncomfortably easy). They ended up standing in front of something that was a lot like a shack. Harry went in, and found the source of the familiarity. A Horcrux. He knelt on the dusty floorboards, and felt the pull – even though the spells that should have hidden it.
*My first, I was so proud of it – I thought…I thought I might have kept it with me. I guess not. I suppose that is foolish, I was – am – young. I should have known better.* Tom sounded betrayed, hurt – but Harry could not think of what to say to make it better for him.
*Well, better to get it over with – I'll take the spells off. Don't touch the ring, put some of your blood on it – I'll call it to me, like that last time with the diary, it should work – don't you think?* Tom was already distracted and thinking and planning and plotting, Harry felt as if he was lost in the white noise. He let Tom work, thinking of how if they continued on like this. Tom would gain his soul bit by bit. He wondered what would happen to him.
Soon enough, Harry blinked. In his hands was a golden box, and in that, a gold band of a ring with a black stone in its center. Carved in it was an odd symbol made up of a triangle with a circle in its center and a line running down it splitting both in equal parts. Harry touched it, and hissed as it cut at him, his blood touched it – and something very strange happened.
He closed his eyes and felt Tom "grow" he became less faint – less like an echo – he was a presence, an essence that Harry was wary of.
Tom…?
Harry wondered if Tom was still Tom – when would be the point that Tom would be Voldemort?
*It…it's alright Harry. Let's go. We'll see what we can do about Nagini, just like you wanted to…alright?* There was a wavering in Tom – a sadness – but Harry felt now that Tom was in agreement with him. Harry didn't look back as he got back in the taxi. Tom didn't ask him to stop again.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Poisoned…my master, my friend….he has poisoned my soul – tainted me!" It was a cry – a plea. Harry, from his hiding place under the kitchen sink, was shaken. It was Nagini. Tom seemed to press his lips together and close his eyes, his pain echoed Nagini's. Harry felt it, it could not be faked. It was regret – sickened pain of a soul.
*I am a monster. I think…I think you should kill me. Him.* It was the first time Tom had ever told him such a thing. Harry swallowed, knowing that he could not afford to be distracted. He could not comfort Tom and be still at the same time. It ached within him, that knowledge – that certainly. He wanted to help Tom – to be his friend. He thought – perhaps foolishly – that if he got all the bits of soul together within himself, Tom would be whole – and be imprisoned.
"Ah, little serpent – I and the others warned you that wizards and their like aren't to be trusted. Yet you would not hear. Now your serpent whisperer has shown his true side; what would you have me do? I cannot cure you – I cannot save you…I cannot even kill you. I may take revenge for you, if you would have me do so….?" Harry knew with those words – spoken like echoing bones – that the speaker was no more human looking then Nagini, perhaps less so. Harry felt fear clench at his gut, biting along his spine. He was frozen. Helpless.
"He was my friend; I would not have you kill him, take me back among our kind, Bogey." There was the sound of scales against tile floor, and something scrapped like cement. Harry smelt sea weed and mold.
"Hush, Nagini. A mortal is near…" Mused the rattling voice, as if amused.
"My friend…?" Nagini asked of him, painfully hopeful. Harry cringed and felt Tom shudder. It was like he was crying without tears.
"No, but a wizard all the same…." Bogey whoever – or whatever – he was seemed to be able to smell Harry as easily as Harry smelt him. Harry wondered what he smelled like. Then he heard movement and wondered if the cleaning products he hid beside would be enough to hide him.
"Where….does he mean my friend harm?" Harry felt the tug from Tom. Even so betrayed, Nagini was still loyal to him. Harry resisted the impulse to show himself – he was not a fool. He knew what Nagini could do to him – he had no idea what Bogey might do.
"No, he smells strange – of fear, of riled dual power – yet still the stench of your friend, yes…but why does he hide..? I think I may ask!" There was a wicked delight in Bogey, even as he – too quick for Harry to move away or think to reach of his wand and say a spell – banged the cupboard doors open and reached inside, gripping him about the collar of his shirt like a cub.
"Ah, a spy, hello little wizard – you are not supposed to be here, I do not think….?" Harry tried to work his tongue, yet words and thoughts came slowly. He stood face to face to something he could not name or had ever seen the likes of. Sharp teeth glinted in the dull light, a wicked smile and silver eyes glittered with delight. Bogey, he realized dully past his fright and gasping breath – liked that he was frightened of him, delighted in it.
"What…what are you?" Harry asked as he struggled to free his tongue. He would not be a slave to his fear. Interest and amusement snuck into the silver eyes, a long tongue licked over teeth that Harry could easily see shredding him into bits.
"Bogey, am I." Harry knew that Bogey was avoiding his real question; just as Bogey knew that Harry had not been asking for a name. This creature was clever – so much as it looked like a bully from a nightmare, it was smart - chillingly so.
*A troll.*
Tom told him numb, matter-of-factly. Harry knew Tom was as startled as he was. Harry thought he might have reacted the same, if Hedwig revealed to him a hidden city in the clouds.
"Why are you two…?" Bogey mused, looking him in the eyes. Harry realized then, vaguely, that his feet were not touching the ground. It did not even brush his toes. There was the soft whisper sound of scales over concrete and Nagini slithered onto Bogey's shoulder.
"Two…he is one, Bogey, do you not see…?" Her tongue flicked out, tasting Harry. It flicked against Harry's ear. Harry felt his fear stir and noticed that Bogey inhaled – as if scenting a fine wine. Annoyed with the realization that something was enjoying his fear, Harry battled it. Bogey gave him something like an amused look as if he expected Harry should have figured what he was doing sooner.
"He has two souls, Nagini – one is like that which taints you, the other…well, we will see if he lives or dies." Bogey opened his mouth wider. Past the gleaming teeth, Harry saw something horrifying – it was darkness. There was a wet sound within his head, and while he knew Tom was there, it was if he was being pulled away; no, not taken… torn away. Harry pulled back.
Bogey was somehow taking Tom. Harry could not stop him. He talked then – babbled, anything to give him just a few more minutes of time. He could not loose Tom.
"Wait – wait, I can help – I can save you Nagini – I can take the tainted soul out of you." In his rush, Harry did not know that he had spoken in the snake tongue until the pulling stopped. Bogey had shut his mouth tightly, as if he had been about to eat a cookie snuck from his mothers secret stash; only he was about to be caught in doing so. Harry shook with relief, Tom had settled back into his place – thought he was silent, withdrawn.
"And do what with it, little wizard…?" Bogey – clearly annoyed now – asked this at a hiss.
"It can taint me." Harry spoke truly. He felt Tom stir with a protest, but he saw Bogey glance to Nagini, then to him. Something new was in those strange silver eyes – respect. Harry only had to prove he could do what he claimed, and he felt he might earn it. He was determined to do so.
Knowing that neither Bogey nor Nagini would stop him, Harry bit at the scab on his thumb. His blood seeped reluctantly out; it was enough. Harry felt as if he was in a long tunnel, rushing to the end – the feeling faded when he felt like he had been struck at the back of his head – no…within his head.
Tom had tried to stop him – of that much he was dizzily aware – and then feeling sick to his gut, he felt himself fade to unconsciousness. Tom had failed.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Note; ….aw, babble-sheep …I forgot how much I loath counting pairings in reviews...I did a short count – okay, okay, so I skimmed it (note to readers; I do read all your reviews, but apparently I can not read the review and count...at the same time) – now despite that some of you may have tried to fool me by not picking between two (or more) particular pairings you liked, I looked on to what applied (as there were mentions of pairings not listed among the to-be-voted-on)….so there…ah!...no fooling Abby, no sir…still, to be fair I waited until there were over fifty votes. It was close, but there is a clear winner…and he is…
Hellboy/Harry; 19
Abe/Harry; 5
John Myers/Harry; 3
Nuada/Harry; 25
Johann/Harry; 1
Nuada, yay!
So, ah, most of you do realize that this means something like Nuada/Harry/Nuala…erk, er… or Nuada/Harry/Nuala/Abe later….-nods distractedly-…