He'd lied about the cookie to everyone. Harry didn't even know why. It just seemed crazy when he said it out loud. That was the only time Harry had ever spoken to Riddle. He had resigned himself to sneaking forbidden glances during their shared classes and telling himself later that he hadn't done it.

Potter was alone in a corridor. He reached from something in his pocket and his wand slipped out and rolled across the floor. With his book under his arm, he scrambled to pick it up.

The sound of footsteps and voices echoed in the crossing hallway. A group of Slytherins pounded through the hall, laughing.

Oh, shoot. Neville.

Neville was by himself in the hallway, other than the Slytherins. Pansy walked by and shoved his stack of books onto the floor.

"You're so stupid."

Seriously. That was the best insult she had. Potter grabbed his wand and hurried to help, but stopped when he saw another figure step into view. Riddle.

She leaned over and scooped up Neville's books into her arms. What? Was she going to steal them? Beat him with them?

"You alright kid?" Riddle held out the books for Neville.

Neville just froze, mouth open staring back at her.

"Uh. Uh. You can keep them," he stuttered, his eyes wide and frantic. Slowly, he backed away.

"Please. I don't. You can - Oh, screw it." Riddle sighed as Neville turned his back and scurried away. Harry stepped into the hallway. Chloe gasped as they almost wrecked into each other.

"Potter?" she said, her head slightly tilted.

"Riddle," he said quietly.

"These are. Your friend. I tried to, but he." What had happened to the confident girl he'd seen in Defense Against the Dark Arts? Still, he was kind of glad she wasn't going after him like she'd gone after Umbridge.

"I saw," he said. And he had seen. He'd seen the granddaughter of a violent killer help the school punching bag. He'd seen her do it and ask for nothing in return.

"Well, then. Could you…" She held the books out to Harry, a strand of her coffee-colored hair falling over her lips. Harry took the books and nodded. He started walking towards the classroom. He was about to be late, but Riddle was also in his class.

Harry wasn't sure what it was, but something stopped him. Something made him turn around and say.

"I think we're heading in the same direction."

A smile ghosted across Riddle's lips, her head shaking up and down slightly. It was like they were both living in a world of paper thin glass. The slightest move the wrong way and they'd bring the whole world down with them.

Riddle took a slow step alongside Potter.

"You can call me Chloe," she whispered.

Harry paused. Thinking about the way the name Chloe would sound whispered on his lips.

Stop thinking like that.

"Harry," he finally said.

They walked quietly for a few steps. World of glass and all, but Chloe eventually broke the silence.

"We didn't have divination at my old school," she said. It was the class they were heading to.

"Yeah. Well it's hard to come by a real seer."

"Didn't stop Hogwarts," said Chloe, with a quick laugh. Harry's face fell. He didn't want to listen to her insult anything about the closest thing he'd ever had to a home, even if he partially agreed. Somehow. Some inexplainable way, she must have realized it. "Harry - I," she said softly.

Harry paused. "I've seen it."

"Seen?" Her head tilted slightly toward him, her blue eyes catching the light and shimmering as bright as a spell.

"Her make a real prophecy." A long breath escaped Harry's lips. "Said Voldemort would come back."

Chloe looked at the ground then back up at him. "Well, I wish Trelawney would have given Grandma a head's up. She'd been waiting for him with a damn shotgun."

Her answer was sharp, witty, packed with information. There was the girl from Defense Against the Dark Arts. It also told him something unusual. Maybe Chloe and Voldemort weren't that close after all. Still, a part of Voldemort lived in her. The same way a part of Harry's mom and dad lived in him.

"So you've never met him?" Harry asked.

She shook her head, stuffing her fists in the pockets of her cloak. "He was, well, let's just say he'd met you before I was born."

"Which side is he. I mean, your dad or-" Harry wasn't sure the next chance he'd get to talk to a Riddle without a wand held to his throat. Might as well get what he could.

"Mom. Died when I was a kid. Dad was a muggle and a deadbeat. Never met the guy." Her voice was like a distant echo. But one Harry understood.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I have Grandma…She's all I have."

Harry's eyes met Chloe's. Something like both ice and fire coursed through his veins. The blood rushed from his head. Just from one look. Impossible. He needed to think of something else.

"I have to ask because I don't get it. Why are you here? Why now?"

Chloe shrugged. "I wish I knew. Grandma wouldn't say."

"Well here we are," said Harry as he pulled open the door to the divination room, unwilling to look at Chloe, both afraid and excited to experience that surging feeling again.

They stepped into the foggy room and Chloe disappeared in the heavy smoke of burning incense.

Chloe sat with Daphne Greengrass during divination. Of all the Slytherins she was the least interested in Chloe's last name. Still it was hard not to lift her eyes from the crystal ball. Hard to not drink him in. Potter's laugh, smile. Bloody hell. He was like a potion.

Without saying another word to Harry, Chloe walked down to the Great Hall with Daphne. She was glad to have a buffer from the rest of the Slytherins. Maybe she'd actually get some lunch today.

Chloe set her books down on the table and pulled out her quill and ink. She hadn't had a chance to write Grandma back since she received the letter. Just as she unfurled the piece of parchment, Chloe heard a voice behind her.

"Miss Riddle. My name is Mr. Humphries. I'm from the Ministry of Magic. I need to speak with you. Can you step into the hall?"

Chloe turned around to see a wrinkled face with blue marks under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days. Eyes that were looking up and down, looking anywhere but directly at her.

"Uh. Okay." She stood from the table, her palms starting to sweat. What could the Minister of Magic want with her?

They stepped into the hallway. Her head of house, Professor Snape, and two middle-aged witches Chloe had never seen before were standing, arms folded in the hallway.

Was she in trouble for something? The only thing she'd done was screw with Umbridge.

"What is it?" she asked, her mouth dry from nerves. Chloe took a step closer to them. They all shifted a little bit back.

"It's your grandmother," said Mr. Humphries, his eyes firmly on the floor.

Chloe's heart was pounding so loud she could hear it in her head.

"What? What about her? Is she okay?" The words shot from her mouth like bullets. What was going on? She needed to know. Why would no one look at her? "Somebody say something."

"She's dead," spat Professor Snape.

The ground caved in. There was nothing but falling and falling. How could this be? It couldn't. Snape was lying.

"No- you're wrong. No. She's not. You're- How?"

"Stroke. About a week ago," answered Humphries.

Chloe's legs were giving out. Grandma was - she was it for Chloe. Without her, there was nothing left in the world. And she'd been gone a week. This world had been empty for seven days and Chloe didn't even feel it. What was wrong with her?

"Why, why am I just f- f- finding out now?" Hot tears started flooding from Chloe's eyes and pouring down her cheeks, making her nose stuffy and runny. She needed a tissue… she needed something… anything… anyone.

"We just got word yesterday. She was only found three days ago," one of the witches whispered.

"What do you mean found?" The world was spinning. Chloe's chest physically hurt, like someone was crushing down on it with a boot.

"The neighbors… she was alone… and they heard a smell," the other witch finished.

The smell? No. No. No. Chloe couldn't hold herself up anymore. She wanted to fall into someone's arms. But there was no one left anymore. Nothing but the wall to hold her up.

They all looked at her like she was poison.

"She probably wanted you to have this," said Humphries coldly. He reached into his pocket and removed a shiny object. He slapped it into her palm.

It was like all the air was sucked out of the world. Shiny white gold and a small, but crystal clear diamond.

Grandma's wedding ring.

News spread around the school quickly. Chloe didn't realize it at the time, but Daphne was hiding in the shadows, listening. But she didn't care about the whispers and the rumors. Whispers and rumors were part of her every day life.

It was the total suspension. The disconnect.

No one in the world left that cared for Chloe. No one left who wasn't afraid to touch her. All she wanted was for someone to hold her and not because they thought she could give them power or prestige. Things she didn't even have. But just because she was human and they were human too.

But that was pipe dream. A hopeless, worthless prayer.

She was a Riddle and no one loved a Riddle

Just before sunset, Chloe was sitting, tears burning her eyes and her cheeks, on the crest of the hill overlooking the Black Lake. Twirling the ring in her fingers, her Grandma's most prized possession. No matter how much she said she hated Grandpa, Chloe never ever saw Grandma take off that ring.

A gust of wind blew over her shoulder, startling her. She looked to her right. Someone sat down beside her.

It was Potter… no… Harry. Harry Potter.

The dim evening light washed over his face, highlighting his strong jaw and the messy waves of his hair. He said nothing and neither did she.

Slowly Harry lifted his hand and laid it gently on Chloe's shoulder.

A cracking sob escaped Chloe's lips, but she quickly covered her mouth with her fingers.

Harry and Chloe stayed there on the crest of that hill, his hand on her shoulder, their eyes never meeting, their voices never speaking. They simply stared across the placid water, until the sun winked out its light.

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked this chapter and are enjoying the growing relationship between Harry and Chloe. I'll try not to take it too slow or too fast. Please review :)