Summary of the story so far: Sixth year Tom is sent through a portal to Harry's sixth year by accident. Trapped there until the portal's power recharges, Tom is placed in Harry's charge. Harry must protect Tom from those who would harm or even kill him for the crimes of his older self, only things are more desperate then they first appeared. Tom is almost killed, and Harry realizes that he can no longer look the other way. As an apology, the boy who lived smuggles, Tom out of the school for a day of fun in Hogsmeade. Too bad getting out unnoticed is harder than getting back in, and that is the story thus far.

TR/HP( fluff), Some Gryffindor bashing (because every story needs an antagonist.), character death (not Harry, Tom, or Voldemort, I can't say any more or I'll give it away), SPOILERS! (I am trying to keep the facts from all seven books, but I'm changing the plot from the sixth book on.)

Disclaimer: See previous chapters please.

"Talking"

'Parseltongue'

~*~*~Start~*~*~

They came to a dead halt. Harry stiffened slightly at the three professor's approach; I could not help wondering what Dumbledore would do. He hated me, but Harry was his favorite student, he could not rightly punish me and not his "Golden Boy" not when the Gryffindor was the instigator. They finally reached us. The two professors retained their furious glares but the Headmaster hit us with a disappointed grandfatherly look. "Evening Professors, is something wrong?" Harry asks them radiating a mixture of innocence, curiosity, and worry. His act was flawless, had I not known he was anything but innocent I would have never suspected a thing. I was truly impressed, but I kept my face blank and strengthened my Occlumency shields. I was not going to do anything to impairment Harry's act.

Snape spoke first, his furious retort held a bitterness that made me suspect that his anger was not solely based on today's events. "Potter" He spat, as if the name were something truly disgusting. "You are a blithering idiot, your arrogance and blatant disregard for the rules will make it easy for 'Him' Potter. Do you have any sense in that thick skull of yours, or are you trying to get your self killed?" Harry looked ready to snap back with his own retort but Dumbledore cut him off. "Now now, there is no need for that. I'm sure young Harry here had the best intentions. Right Harry?" He shot the boy a kind look. Harry blinked confused, and replied gently. "I would never do anything foolish without a good reason professor, but I'm not sure what it is that I have presumably done wrong." He cocked his head slightly and blinked questioningly up at the Headmaster.

The old man chuckled with amusement. "Now Harry I know you meant well but you should not have left the castle grounds, Hogsmeade is not safe for you and Tom. You could have been attacked my boy. We only have your safety in mind." Suddenly Harry's entire demeanor changes unexpectedly, his eyes flare with anger. "Tom already gets attacked here headmaster, and he has been under constant attack since he got here. No one even tries to stop it! They even attack when I'm around. He hasn't even done any of the things that he's being attacked for sir! Voldemort is the one who committed those crimes; Tom hasn't even finished school yet. It's not right, you can't keep punishing him for things he hasn't done yet."

With a scoff, Snape cut the boy's triad short. "Potter if you think that monster will change his ways you're sourly mistaken. The brat is a psychopath he is just using you." The Potion's master shot me a disgusted look. It is obviously bait, the only times I have ever lost control of my perfect student persona occurred after someone dared to call me a monster or questioned my mental health. Still, I am far from amused, and it takes a great deal of will power not to hex the insufferable bastard. "

Forgive me headmaster, but I do believe that Harry has a legitimate argument." I begin politely, keeping my rage at these fools in check. Once I have their attention I precede. "If I remember correctly, sirs, the whole point of my remaining in Hogwarts was because I would be kept safe from attack. If you do not uphold your end of the bargain, than how am I expected to uphold mine?" A wicked smile creeps its way onto my face, as I simply can not help feeling smug. If the seething glares, I am being subjected to are any hint, this argument is won.

Only Dumbledore and Harry seem calm. "Ah yes, well you two do have a point." The old coot chirrups eyes twinkling, much to my outrage. Bloody hell, I hate that twinkle! It made me want to hurt things. "I'm afraid you boys are right. I have not done right by you Tom, but I must ask you two to try to bear with things for now. It simply isn't safe for you outside of the castle." He paused to give Harry a sharp look. "Even if Voldemort is still out of the country, I assure you his followers are not. I doubt there is much else they would like than to get their hands on either of you. Do you boys think you can survive a few more months inside of the castle?" A gentle grandfatherly smile graced his face. Harry beamed, and nodded with an "of course sir, no problem", while grumbled a "sure". Anything to get me away from that barmy coots blasted grin. No wonder my older self goes around killing people. Someone has to do something to whip that incessant grin from the old man's face!

We head back to my room, and Harry bids me good night. I thank him for earlier, and head inside only to be greeted by a rather chipper Salazar. 'Good evening Lord Slytherin' I hiss curtly. I am simply too tired to really care right now, although, I have not seen the founder for some time. 'Now, now Tom there is no reason for that, I come bearing good news!' 'Do you now?' I ask looking up, my curiosity getting the better of me. 'Yes, Godric has convinced our esteemed headmaster to hold a special Dueling tournament over the winter holidays. The winner will receive a grand prize of their choice. Obviously, it can't be anything too grand, but something as simple as a resorting may be a plausible reward, don't you think?' His sly smile only grew as the implications registered. I can not stop a matching grin from wandering onto my face as well as I start working out a plan. If I can get Harry as my dueling partner, we would be unstoppable. The prize was as good as ours, now how to convince my reluctant friend to go along with our plans?

~*~*~End~*~*~

Oh dear, it's been over a year since I posted, and now I have nothing left to show for it! *Sigh* I had this thrice dammed story finished too. This is what I get for forgetting to make a backup. Evil computers are evil, and all that jazz. I have rewritten the end, and now I know exactly how many more chapters I have left. For those of you who are curious, five, maybe six if I end up adding extra material. I may have secret plans for a Halloween story, if anyone is curious. This supposed secret story may also have something to do with Tom's inexplicable fear of house elves. *wink*

Now to some interesting questions I've been asked by commenters, I can't remember who. Anyway, it has been pointed out to me that I switch perspectives occasionally, and at some odd times. First, I'll say that that will no longer be a problem, hopefully. You see I had already wrote, and typed up most of this story a while ago, but in Harry's perspective, or third person when focusing on Tom. When I went to edit it before posting, a sudden epiphany struck me. How about the entire story be in Tom's perspective? Usually everything focuses on Harry, but what if Tom got to be the star? I really liked the idea, although, writing for Tom can be odd at times. Thus, the entire story had to go through some radical changes. Those odd perspective shifts, are simply stuff I missed while editing. And of course the second question, why is Tom out of character!? Tom is acting; it's a hostile environment, so Tom is behaving. He is putting up with all this nonsense only because he truly believes that they will kill him if he doesn't. Things are about to change, if you didn't pick up on that this chapter. As for why he is not plain evil yet, well that is kind of important to the plot. I'll get to it soon enough. Tom is still a murder; we'll see his darker side eventually.