Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, never have never will, thanks.

A/N: Please welcome the one and only Tom Riddle! *puts my arm out as he enters clapping happily*

Chapter six – The Walking Dead

Slowly I lowered my wand.

"My lord?" The man laughed. Laughed!

"Yes my friends, but please call me Tom." I shook the man's hand, Severus still cowering behind me.

"Severus I doubt he will bite." I watched as the man timidly took the others hand.

"Sorry my lord it has been a while." Severus bowed formally and Tom quickly took hold of his shoulder pulling him up.

"No my friends, we are equal. You are two of the few who have truly remained honest to me. I consider you both the highest ranking now. Many of the others…" He sighed sadly. "…Many of them have left. I put a spell on my mark and only allowed them who are faithful to feel it, you two are only the nineteenth and twentieth to arrive." Our lord looked devastated.

Once we had sorted out small problems, such as the spying conditions we made our way to a hall where everyone stood waiting.

"Welcome my loyal followers. All of you will have a…register of sorts. If you'd like to make a line." He sounded pleasant! People slowly milled around into a line and began to sign their name, age and title (if they had one). I signed both mine and Severus' who was in deep conversation with the Dar- Tom. Once everyone had signed they went back and took seats that were around the room. Looking down the list there was twenty five left. Many had given up on their lord return and now were no longer faithful to him.

"Everyone be seated!" His voice was commanding and a flare came from his wand, many found themselves now on the floor as a table and chairs appeared in the middle of the room. Once everyone had a seat at the new table where it was mostly round save for one edge which was straight where Tom myself and Severus sat. Pulling his chair out the man stood up and began to pace around the table pausing every now and then to touch someone's shoulder.

"Welcome, I have been returned to my body due to a ceremony last year which took place. As you all know I had a more…Snake-like appearance; however I found a spell which was on me, removing it made me look like this." He paused on his rounds of the table, and held a hand to his chest. He continued speaking his voice considerably lower than before. "Many of you may not know, but I did used to love. I loved and lost. I had a wife and a child but both were taken away from me driving me to insanity. During this period I created many horcruxes, parts of my soul spilt into an inanimate or occasionally an animate object." He began to walk once more. "During this ceremony I re-joined five parts of my soul. These parts of my soul, I had six or so I thought, are now back in me, my sanity has also come back. However like I said I thought I had six, however I still feel one other one is missing, and I do not know how I created it or what it is attached to." He came back to his seat and sat down. "That is all you need to know my friends for the less you know, the less others have to harm you with. As for ranking we will sort that by duels."

(Neville P.O.V)

Two weeks and all anyone had been talking about was Harry. No one liked him anymore and those that did were all battered down until they gave in.

"Oi! Nev, Harry gets out tonight go pick him up for us. We'll trap this place." I nodded at the ginger who smiled slyly. "Don't forget to play nice."

"Ha! Nice to that bastard! Fuck as if! Time to play Ron, eh? Time to play." I walked out the room with a small swing in my step.

Fucking idiots…All Harry ever did was save you. That was all he ever did… I stopped outside the hospital wing ad slowly opened the door. It creaked as the hinges moved. I took one step inside and then another. The place was dead to the world. No sound was made. Until…

"NOOOO!" The scream broke through the silence. "Momma!" The voice was undeniably Harry. A flurry to my left made me spin around. Snape and Malfoy stood at the door both of them breathing heavily.

"Move fool!" One growled, which I could not decipher. They both went to his bed. Madam Pomfrey already stood at his side. Ma'am picked him up and held back his head as Severus administered potions. Malfoy stood nearby holding a box and pulling out potions handing then to Severus and taking back empty vials. It was soon over and the two professors left quickly.

"Neville! Hello, here to pick up Harry?" I nodded once too lost for words. "Well then love he's awake now, let him get dressed then he is free to go." She smiled warmly and I sat in a chair near the door.

"Thank you." The words came out as a horse whisper.

"Nev. How you mate?" Harry stood before me. I jumped slightly in surprise he looked a lot better now. I wonder if he knows I'm on his side? Smiling I stood up.

"Okay ta, come on I'm gonna walk you home."

"Hahaa okay. So what's Gryffindor like now?" I smiled at him, as we began to talk as we walked.

"Well same old really, not much change."

(Harry P.O.V)

Is Neville the only friend I have left? He says no one has changed…Are they all hiding it from him? Maybe he is too innocent to see…

"Harry we're here…" Is that…dread in his voice?

"Ta mate I best go in by myself you know what they're like." Stepping away from him I went into the common room.

It was pitch black. Not even the fire was alight. Something is wrong…Really wrong. I looked behind me, the door glowed a green colour. I quickly stepped back from it. And it was the biggest mistake yet. I stepped right onto a rope which pulled down a bowlful of water on top of me. Sighing I turned around and was faced with a punching fist. It connected with my nose which snapped cleanly. At least that's something. My arms went out in the air around me looking for something to grab. Once it had connected with something I grabbed on for dear life. I began seeing swirls before my eyes. Voices came close to me. Looking up I looked at what… Or more importantly who… I had grabbed.

"Herm…" I whispered my voice choked. She smiled, a grin spreading across her face.

"You filthy slut! Get your hands off her." I immediately retreated, a haze crossing my vision. "You should never have been born! We all would have been better off without you…You our saviour? My arse are you." A hand grabbed my hair and yanked back. Revealing my throat to them all.

"Please…I will do anything…" I begged. I begged the person who I once thought as, as a brother.

"You're a slut aren't you Harry? Dumbledore told us…Told us EVERYTHING!" Panicked I looked up and at the faces of several people only four understood… They know how weak I am…How I am my uncles slut, his slave, a meaningless slave who deserves to die.

"Oh yes we know Harry…Tell us, do you miss it? Miss the feeling of being full every night?" Realisation dawned on the people's faces who didn't know. Several stepped back having their head disgusted. "You are a shame to the Potter name and too wizards." I drew in on myself making me smaller in front of the others. What can I do now? I really have no friends they just used me…Like everyone else. They wanted the fame not the real me…Even Herm…She was the closest thing I had ever had to a mother…or sister. How could she do this?! I began to claw at my skin making new marks appear.

"Tut, tut Harry. We can't have you hurting yourself. We need to get you to his office." Hermione stepped up beside me and pointed her wand at me. I looked at it going cross eyed with the effort. Before I knew what was happening a spell knocked me out from behind.

A/N: Sorry it took longer to update got my exams coming up soon so writing is taking back lines just for two weeks.