Chapter Eight

Manners

Harry wrote his list of charms first. It looked like he was going to have to spend a while going through everything he had covered in his first two years at Hogwarts. This looked like it was going to take him most of the evening and he would probably have to make a similar list for all of his other subjects when Tom asked. If he started them now, he could just update the lists when he remembered.

Harry tried to make the list quite thorough, he included the topics, specific spells, wand movements and incantations meaning that he was able to fill more than four feet of parchment before he ran out of ideas. He left that sitting next to him on the floor and started on a similar one for Transfiguration, this was considerably shorter. He had difficulties in McGonagall's classes, he didn't quite understand any of the equations from the theory side of it and most of the time his creations lacked detail and structural integrity. His disastrous attempt at turning a comb into a butterknife was a favourite anecdote of Hermione's now.

Oh, thinking of Hermione still hurt. Harry wondered if Tom would tell him about the people from Hogwarts if he asked. Probably not, but he felt like he should try it. He owed it to Ginny and the petrified people. He was glad that he knew the Basilisk was certainly dead, having stabbed the monster himself with the sword of Gryffindor.

If only he had been able to destroy the diary before the chamber had begun to collapse. Harry remembered having the idea to stab the diary with the fang that had been in his arm but when he had looked for it, the book was nowhere to be seen. Harry knew now that Tom must have taken it. Harry had barely had time to understand that Fawkes the phoenix had saved his life before he saw the bird grab Ginny Weasley's shoulder in his talons and fly away.

Harry remembered the cracks appearing in the statue of Salazar Slytherin, and how huge chunks began to fall into the water surrounding the tunnel. Maybe the chamber was linked to the basilisk somehow and the death had caused the collapse. The only memory he had after that was a hand grabbing him by his tender arm and a wand being pressed into his temple.

Harry must have stayed up for hours working on his lists and he knew why he was putting so much time into it as well. He really didn't want to go to sleep tonight. If Tom was going to be out for any longer than a couple of hours, Harry was worried about what Nagini might do. Tom had said that she couldn't get through the door yesterday, but what if she could now? He wouldn't put it past Tom to try and trick him over this. The door opened a hairs breadth, and Tom's voice came from downstairs.

"Potter, come down here!"

Harry stood up cautiously. It shouldn't be time for breakfast yet, it couldn't have been more than five hours since their last meal, and that had been dinner. He should probably have been in bed by now but Tom had never said anything about that. Harry was still dressed in his day robes since he hadn't had a shower yet. What was Tom likely to want in the middle of the night and how did he know Harry was still up?

"Come on Potter, or I'll send Nagini to fetch you down."

He moved then, of course, not wanting to risk being accused of direct disobedience. Pushing his concerns aside, Harry made his way down to the kitchen. His hand turned a green colour when he used it to pull open the door, showing him that he had dawdled for a bit too long.

Tom looked irritated by the wait when Harry made it in to the kitchen. He sent a curse at Harry's hands, which caused pain to flare up in his joints whenever he moved them.

He made the younger boy sit down in his usual place at the table and put a plate down in front of each of them.

"Eat up, boy." He said, "I will have to go out tomorrow to find out if my endeavours have been successful. You will be remaining here, in your room. You are not permitted to leave it while I am gone and you will eat at this table or not at all. Therefore it would be prudent to eat as much as you can now."

Harry scowled, it was difficult to eat neatly and with the best manners when you were unable to move your hands. It felt like his joints had been filled with an acid which was trying to eat away at his bones and muscles whenever they pulled on each other. Harry ate as well as he could though, despite not having much of an appetite so soon after their last meal.

Tom was not being particularly encouraging of conversation and the couple of half-hearted attempts made by Harry were swiftly battered down. Finally they were both finished.

"You can go back to your room soon," Tom said. "I want you to write me six sentences in parselscript tomorrow. Original sentences only. I expect you to be able to tell me what they say as well. When you have managed that, or more likely made such a muddle of it that you actually manage to summon something from the abyss; I would like you to write a Charms essay. Pick a charm and describe its versatility and uses. Pick a simple one and explain why you might use it over a specialised one with similar effects, then do the opposite and use a situation where the more complex charm might be more suitable."

Harry nodded, glad that he had already completed the list Tom had asked for. He should be able to find at least one example from the collection he had. Maybe Wingardium Leviosa and another spell would do for that.

"I would prefer it vastly," Tom said, shaking Harry out of his thoughts. "If you could find the courtesy within you to answer me with words when I give you instructions, instead of just inane gestures."

Harry ducked his head apologetically, then caught himself doing that and answered, "Ok Tom"

Riddle suddenly slammed the table with his fist, making Harry jump. "Could you make some attempt to not use such childish language?"

Harry was more than surprised. He wondered what had happened to make Tom so angry today, this wasn't even anything the boy had suggested was annoying before now. The older boy hadn't been so antsy about anything since the day Harry had woken up.

"What am I supposed to say then?" Harry asked, puzzled.

Tom considered for a moment. "Almost anything else," he said. "Yes, all right, of course, would all be appropriate. I would also prefer if you would cease calling me 'Tom' all of the time."

"Of course," Riddle mused, "eventually you shall know me as Your Lord, and we will not have to deal with this ridiculous familiarity."

"Unless you kill me first," Harry supplied helpfully.

Tom smiled, "Quite."

After eating, Tom escorted Harry upstairs again. The boy stood next to the bed while Tom addressed him from his perch on the desk.

"You should be fine for the next day at least. If I am gone any longer than that, then tough luck. Do not expect any sympathy from me, I have done my best to give you extra food in preparation and you should not starve unless I am killed while I am away. "Tom waited here for a reply.

"That's excellent news," Harry said.

Tom grinned, "You won't be quite so flippant later. I have asked Nagini to keep an eye on you while I am away. I am sure you will both enjoy that."

Harry panicked, "You said the room was warded against her." He said, "So she can't get in anyway."

Tom grinned, "What I actually said was that I had warded the doorway so that she could not pass. It just so happened that she was already under your bed, watching you when I was warding the room."

Harry felt physically sick. He had been writing the list earlier from the floor, he could have been inches from the monster without knowing it. He dropped his eyes to the floor and inched slowly away from the bed, hoping he would have some warning if the snake decided to move.

"What if she eats me?"

Tom shrugged, "I already have your blood, that's all I need. I'm killing you next week anyway, that's what we agreed. What difference does it make to me if my pet speeds things up a bit? Nonetheless, you may have some slight use left in you, even if it is only as a meal the next time Nagini needs fresh meat." Tom pulled a small vial out of his pocket, Harry thought it looked like the anti-paralysis potion from the previous afternoon. "She may become a little overexcited if she smells your fear. If she does bite you then you would probably benefit best from drinking this as quickly as possible."

Harry took the vial with shaking hands. It had a long silver chain so that it could be worn about the neck of the owner. Harry was glad it would always be within reach.

"Please Tom, I won't do anything stupid, I'm going to stay right here, look. I'll spend the whole time doing work, or you could just stun me and have done with it, please don't leave me with her alone." Tears started to pool in his eyes and he was surprised as a couple spilled over and rolled down to drip off his chin. He hated begging like this, but he couldn't stop the words.

Tom didn't bend though, "You will stay here, I am sure you will not do anything overly stupid and you will do the work I have set you." He slipped down off the dresser and walked to the door, "Perhaps then, I would be less inclined to have you eaten."

Riddle slammed the door shut behind him as he left.

Immediately, Harry dived for the relative safety of the top of his bed. At least he would be able to see the snake come out if it moved. His hands prickled and he realised that Tom hadn't removed the hex from them. He was going to have a painful time writing if the hex didn't wear off. He hoped it would stop and wondered if this was what having arthritis was like.

Harry pressed his back into the corner against the scorched wallpaper. He hoped Tom wouldn't be gone for too long, there was no way he was going to be able to sleep if the serpent was under his bed. Harry almost smiled at the irony of having a monster under his bed at the age of twelve.