Author Note: I am typing this in wordpad, because my other laptop is broken and my Word trial ran out. If this looks terrible, too bad.. I'll fix it whenever I get time. It's been a LONG time since I updated, I was actually suffering from mild depression at that time and I've been changing my life a lot in this time.
I suppose I just couldn't be bothered writing either now that I think about it...
As Harry woke up in the morning he noticed one thing. It was dark. Not just dark, completely black. Numerous thoughts entered his mind as he sat up. "Is this the cupboard?", "Am I back at the Dursleys?". Suddenly he could remember Vernon bearing down on him...
"Freak, What do you think you're doing, sleeping on the job? Do you think that I'll take your SHIT anymore brat? DO YOU?" screamed Vernon, who had just found Harry "sleeping" outside while he was supposed to be cleaning the shed. In reality, he had hit his head on a large tool Vernon kept in the shed, stumbled outside, and fell unconscious. But Vernon didn't care. He never did.
That had happened while he was only six years old. It was far from the worst of the various beatings that Vernon had administered over the years. But, of course, Harry realized that he was at Hogwarts. Safe, well, as safe as one could be at any given time, but as safe as his life generally got. The dark room was strangely comforting to him, it was not often that he had this sort of peace and quiet. It had certainly taken a long time, but he was finally at Hogwarts. Free to practice magic as he wished. With Tom Riddle's help of course... Ah, Tom, the only one who had ever actually scared about his well-being. Speaking of which...
"Tom... Tom, what time is it?" asked Harry softly.
Harry watched as the faint apparition of Tom Riddle appeared in his room. The "ghost" didn't radiate light onto nearby objects even though he was quite easy to see in the dark room. In fact, Tom seemed to suck any light into his body...
"The time, Harry, is 4:19 in the morning," replied Tom.
Well, it was quite early, at least for Harry, most people would consider it extremely early. But not Harry, he enjoyed awake being before other people. It calmed him down. Although it was not entirely visible, what the Dursleys to him over the years wasn't fading. It was getting worse as each day went by, and why was it doing this was the question that needed answering now. But it wasn't an easy question to answer...
Maybe it was because of the horrible life he had had since he left. Oh, he knew that his life was much better than it was while at the Dursleys,but he had hardly had the best life. Maybe the stress of changing locations so often was doing it too him. But he doubted it. Maybe it was becau...
"Harry, are you even awake?" asked Tom.
"Huh... Oh, yes, I'm awake, I think I'll get up now, would you mind looking around the castle for deserted rooms for me? I need somewhere to set up a hideout," said Harry.
"I suppose I can do that, it would be in our best interests to have a room to practice more... unsavoury things in..." replied Tom.
"Good, this school is massive, I'm sure it wont be too hard to find a hidden room or two," said Harry as he got out of bed.
Tom vanished as Harry turned his lamp on and got dressed in the required uniform, he looked at his timetable and then noted that his first class was Charms. He had a full five hours to waste before his lesson and Breakfast seemed like a good place to start. If it was ready that was...
Harry walked down to the Slytherin common room and looked around, it was a comfortable looking place, especially this early in the morning. But he didn't really deserve comfort did he? He WAS the freak after all...
After leaving the common room, Harry walked to the Great Hall. he took his time, making sure that he remembered the castle layout and didn't get lost. The dark corridors were like a maze, they just kept going with countless doors and hallways branching down the sides. Eventually he reached a steep spiral staircase and went up. He recognized the entrance hall from the night before and sighed in relief. Maybe this place wasn't so hard to navigate after all...
Entering the entrance hall, Harry sat down at the closest table, it didn't matter at this time of day, nobody else was in the hall. What was surprising was that as soon as he sat down several plates of food appeared in front of him. All of them steaming hot and freshly prepared. He took a plate of food and started to eat. Of course, he made sure to test the food for poisons first. Can't take any chances...
"... So my boy, I think you'll fit in perfectly here. The other students obviously adore you for defeating the Dark Lord and I'm sure that you'll make many friends here at Hogwarts. Details will be in your scroll of course, I think that you'll enjoy the experience," said someone who Harry identified as Albus Dumbledore.
"I agree, I think that while I've obviously done the world a great favour, it wont make my experience here too different from the other students." said Neville Longbottom as he walked into the room with Dumbledore.
Harry's blood boiled at the sight of them, everything about them he hated. Right down to their names. Why must THOSE two find him... especially while he was alone.
"Ah, Harry my boy, I must say that you're up early. Couldn't you sleep?" asked Dumbledore as he walked over to Harry, smiling.
"I slept well sir, I simply enjoy getting up early," replied Harry, who didn't look at Dumbledore.
"Oh, I see, I too enjoy waking up early. It's very refreshing for the soul, wouldn't you say? Anyway, I was just telling Neville about Hogwarts, being who he is he might need some extra preperation,"
"I see sir," replied Harry, who was hoping that Dumbledore would just leave.
"Anyway Harry, have you had a chance to open the scroll you received last night? It's quite important, I suggest you do it was soon as possible," said Dumbledore.
"Harry... Harry, I've found a suitable room. I'll meet you in the dorms to take you there when you've finished breakfast"
Harry was never more happy to hear Tom's voice, even if it was in his head.
"I'm sorry sir, I'm afraid I have to leave. Classes to study for," said Harry as he left the room.
Harry ran out of the room, anything to get away from them. And of course, he had to open the scroll. How could he forget a chore" Idiot!
"Freak! Worthless piece of crap, always wasting my families time!"
Harry got back to the common room with little trouble and opened the door with a muttered "bravery". As he entered the room he saw the clock on the wall. 5:32. Not bad. He still had plenty of time torelax, maybe he could even brew a potion once Tom showed him this new room. Knowing his luck it would need to be cleaned though...
"Potter, what are you doing, sneaking around? Have you been moved to Gryffindor? I'll even help you pack if you have," sneered someone sitting on an armchair in the corner. Malfoy.
"Obviously I haven't been moved to Gryffindor. Nobody has ever changed house. Do you ever realise that somebody will HEAR you when you speak? I doubt that you do, you probably wouldn't talk at all if you did. That's because nothing you have to say is relevant to anything. All you seem able to do in insult me," snapped Harry, he was sick of these people, always yelling, always sneering at him, he really didn't know what he had done to deserve all of this.
"You should be glad that you're even alive. I shouldn't have let you into my house, you filthy beast"
"I..." stuttered Malfoy.
Harry just walked off, Malfoy was of no interest to him. Though if he could find a way to get Malfoy to stop insulting him and start ignoring him it would be much better than the current situation.
Harry opened his dorm door and sat down at his desk. He grabbed the scroll from where he had left it the night before and noticed that the seal was broken. Had someone been in here? Instantly nervous, Harry unrolled the scroll and started to read.
Dr Mr Potter.
You have been invited to a meeting on the third day of term! Congratulations. It will be held in the student lounge on the fourth floor. I'm sure another student will help you if you don't know where it is. Several other students have been invited and there will be fun, games, food and music! I know you'll enjoy yourself.
The meeting will take place at 8:30pm. Make sure that you're there. This is a compulsory meeting. This meeting has been organised so that new students can make friends and have people to talk to. The only thing you need to bring is a smile!
from Albus Dumbledore.
Harry's first thought was "What utter crap." Dumbledore obviously was just looking for suitable candidates for Neville Longbottom's gang. "I suppose I have to go though, it's only one meeting, I can just take a book and read while the rest of them waste time. It wont be too bad..."
"Harry, I take it that you've read the scroll then? What was your opinion?" asked tom, who had just appeared.
"Utter crap, Dumbledore is a fool. It's all a scheme devised to get Longbottom a gang, I'm sure of it." replied Harry.
"Yes, that's what I gathered as well, I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself, you love parties" smirked Tom as he sat on the bed.
"Yes, because sitting in a room full of idiots is my idea of a good time, why me though? I'm a Slytherin, I'm nobody. I'm a fr... " said Harry, stopping suddenly before he could finish.
"I almost said freak... I hope Tom didn't notice..."
"Yes... I think that Dumbledore didn't actually know that you would be in Slytherin. I think your parents were Gryffindors actually. That would explain why you got the scroll. But no, I don't think you're nobody. You're more imtelligent than half of the fools here. But anyway, I have a room to show you. I think you'll like it," said Tom, carefully ignoring the "freak" comment.
Harry left his dorm, taking his shrunken potions kit with him. After walking through the common room and receiving a scowl from Malfoy who was still there, he left the room.
"You'll like this room, it was my favourite as a student. It probably hasn't been used since then either," said Tom as they walked.
"How large is it?" asked Harry.
"Well, there's one entrance, it's quite small. But there are two rooms behind it. Well, two large rooms, there is also a small storage room in there as well," replied Tom as they walked.
"Do you think that anyone will have used it since you went there this morning," asked Harry.
"It's never used, ever, but I didn't go there this morning," replied Tom.
That begged the question, where DID Tom go... he was gone for a long time, and if he already knew what room they would use what was he doing?
"So, what kind of furniture does the room have then?" asked Harry.
"I moved quite a lot of furniture in there from my days as a student; tables, chairs, bookcases, cages... wait... what was that?"
Tom looked around.
"Something's here," he whispered.
"Hide,"
Harry did, he jumped behind a nearby box and crouched down, hugging his knees with his arms just like he did at the Dursleys.
Something came past... it was moving extremely fast and didn't notice him. Harry looked up over the box and saw that "it" was Professor Quirell. But he didn't look like Quirell. His eyes were red, and his skin more pale than it was at the welcome feast. He was holding a bag full of something. Books, maybe?
Quirell smiled at him. But it was not a friendly smile. It was more... predatory. Quirell spun around and walked away.
"Harry, we need to go," whispered Tom.
Harry was in a daze, he didn't move, not even to blink.
"Harry, move now, we NEED to go!" said Tom, who was getting anxious. What was it that scared him so much. He couldn't be killed.
Harry got up and silently followed Tom. Entering they finally stopped at a dusty door. But not too dusty. Someone had been in here.
"Harry, I need to go, I have business to attend to," said Tom, he seemed in a rush.
Harry didn't answer, Tom left, walking down the corridor and after Quirell.
As Harry entered the room he noticed that it was quite spacious. Everything was dusty but there would be plenty of room for his potions work. There were tables, bookshelves, even a closet. This would be a very good hideout. As he set to work, unshrinking his equipment and cleaning the dust off of everything he noticed several book neatly stacked on a table in the corner. Walking over the the books he read the first title."Introduction to the Dark Arts", the second title was similar "Efficient use of the Dark Arts", "Necromancy: An Introduction", "Potions for Pain", "Moste Potent Potions", "Guide to the Unforgivables", "Darkest of the Arts" and "Killing with Stealth".
Who would leave these here? They weren't dusty, so Tom didn't leave them. Unless he lied about not coming here... which was possible, but not too likely. So it must have been Quirell. Quirell didn't seem like the sort of person to do that, but then again. The Quirell I saw didn't look much like the Quirell at the feast...
This was not good. Someone was watching him. But maybe they didn't mean him harm. It was like they wanted him trained into a killer though. These books all looked illegal and dangerous. Not to mention rare. Well, he would put them to good use. But maybe Tom shouldn't see all of them. He knew that Tom was extrememly ambitious, and may be inclined to kill whoever left these here.
He decided to hide "Potions for Pain", "Darkest of the Arts" and "Killing with Stealth" under the closet. They would be there whenever he needed them. Now, Time to finish his cleaning...
* * *
Draco Malfoy made sure that he was quiet when he followed Potter out of the common room, Potter was intriguing. A Slytherin, always talking to himself and looking around as though he expected to be murdered at any minute. He was a puzzle, and Draco enjoyed solving puzzles. Hopefully Potter would join his gang. He WAS a Malfoy after all, much more important than anyone else currently in Slytherin. He would try to make his father proud, even if he had failed miserably so far. He was glad to be away from his home, his father was often quite... violent when Draco did something wrong. Which was always in his father's opinion.
In fact, Potter looked the same way he did sometimes. But much worse. Potter hadn't responded to his taunts. So he was nothing like his father and Severus said he would be. But he was different. Weird almost. But he could see it in Potter's eyes. He had suffered through abuse just as Draco had, perhaps worse. Probably worse, he had to live with muggles after all. What beastly creatures muggles were...
Draco was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice when he walked into Professor Quirell.
"I'm sorry sir, I did not expect anyone to be down in the dungeons this early," said Draco as he looked at Quirell.
What the hell? Quirell's face was bone white and his eyes were red. But as soon as Draco looked back up Quirells face was normal and his eyes brown...
That was not normal. Was Quirell some kind of vampire? No that idea was stupid, he must have been imagining it.
"It's perfectly... f-fine, Mr M-malfoy, on your way, " stuttered Quirell, but Quirells stutter didn't reach his eyes. he knew exactly what he was saying.
Draco, spun around and left. He had completely forgotten about Potter and he ran straight to the Great Hall.
* * *
Tom followed Quirell as Harry was setting up his hideout. Quirell was not normal. There was something about him... he could recognise the aura coming out of Quirell, but he just couldn't remember where he recognised it from.
He watched as Quirell ran into a blond Slytherin. Something about Quirell scared the child. So, Quirell was not what he seemed at all. This would warrant further interest from him. he needed to know what Quirell was doing, and why. But now that he thought about it, Quirell would be easy to follow, he was invisible. He was the ultimate spy. And Quirell couldn't stop him from fulfilling his plans.
Done, hopefully it's not too bad. I've forgotten some of the old plot details and this WAS written in wordpad...
At any rate. I was thinking of making Malfoy an ally of Harry's. Not a "best friend", not a "lover" not "relationships", not "slash". Not any of that rubbish. Just an ally. Harry will have a small role in the Philosophers Stone plot, he will probably helping Voldemort though, he certainly wouldn't help Neville.
At any rate, this chapter had to be long. 3000 words for Harry's first morning, not even his first day. Classes and the friendship party next chapter. Should be out soon. Maybe even today.
