Note: The name of this chapter is from "The devil within" by Digital Dagger.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. I wish I did. :(

Chapter 9

The Devil Within

After the confrontation with Tom, it had been uneventful for Harlene. Life here in Hogwarts had become quite mundane. But of course it could never last long.

Harlene was returning from Ancient Runes class. It turns out that if you were the mistress of Death you get instant knowledge in Runes.

She entered the common room to leave her bag in her room and then go down to have lunch after. She went straight to the adjoined bathroom to her room to freshen up, when suddenly she heard a click in her room. Instantly she pulled out her wand from the messy bun she had made with her hair.

She held her wand in front of her in a defensive mode and turned the knob of the bathroom door with the other hand. She quietly opened the door and peeked inside of the room.

At first there was nothing that could be seen. But Harlene's veteran eyes caught the blurry edges of a human figure. It was crouched up beside her bed where her school trunk was lying.

Someone is invisible here.

Quietly Harlene entered the room but the figure heard her anyway. It shot up from its place. Harlene wouldn't be able to make out the movements if the figure hadn't shot curses at her.

The figure shot a stunning spell at her. Harlene jumped out of its way and aimed a spell of her own, but missed it as she could hardly make out the figure's movements.

The figure shot a full body bind curse at her which Harlene could only deflect by using the shield charm. But before Harlene could do anything else the figure used the single second window which was provided by Harlene's distraction, and fled from there through the door. Harlene hurriedly followed behind it but there was no one in the hallway. Even if there was anyone, Harlene could not see it.

Harlene stood in the hallway, her both hands were on her hip, hair lying on her back in a messy way. She sighed in frustration. But then angered boiled inside of her toward a certain Slytherin.

Ughhh! Riddle!

She stormed out in the common room in anger to find Tom. She passed Catalina on her way.

"Hey Harlene! Where have you been?" Catalina asked Harlene as she stormed passed her. But she was too pissed off to answer her.

She stormed out in the common room and saw Tom sitting at his usual couch; he hadn't gone to lunch yet. She walked towards him and stood in front of him, arms crossed on top of her chest.

Tom was reading a book, as usual. He didn't even notice the angry lioness that was walking towards him, not until she was standing right in front of him, arms crossed on top of her chest.

At first he noticed that someone was standing in front of him, he looked up to find a very angry Harlene Peverell. She was fuming in anger, ready to burst out because of him, at any moment. Tom wondered what happened now to make her so angry.

He quirked an eyebrow at her, she seemed to become even angrier at him. Her hair was loose on her shoulder, eyes were blood shot. She was breathing heavy in anger.

She can even put a dragon to shame.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Tom asked her nonchalantly. Harlene rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Why don't you tell me?" Harlene told him through gritted teeth.

What a surprise! No fire came out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry?" Tom asked with furrowed eyebrows. He had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

"You may not be sorry now but you will be if you don't stop doing these things." Harlene spat at him.

"I absolutely have no idea what you are talking about?" Tom said. His patience was breaking with each passing seconds.

"Stop pretending, Riddle. You know exactly what I am talking about. I answered every question you had so why can't you just LEAVE ME ALONE?" Harlene yelled out at the end.

Tom closed his eyes and looked away in irritation; he was fighting very hard not to lash out on her. "Listen, Ms. Peverell…"

"No, you listen. I don't care even if you are the King of England. If you don't stop your minions from snooping around in my room not to mention attacking me, I will find you and I will skin you." Harlene snarled at him. Tom looked at her with wide eyes. Oh, he wasn't afraid more like he was shocked.

She is threatening me? Me?!

But before he could react to that he realized something else.

In her room? Attacked her? What is she talking about?

Without saying anything to Harlene Tom looked at the other students in the common room, whom were listening to their conversation in rapt attention.

"Leave us." Tom commanded to everyone in a booming voice. That was when Harlene realized that they were in the common room.

Everyone left the common room in a hurry. Tom's followers wanted to stay behind but a glare from Tom told them to leave immediately.

Catalina looked at Harlene if she should stay behind with her but Tom's raised eyebrow told her otherwise.

When the whole common room was empty Tom put his book down and stood up from his couch. When he spoke up his voice was as calm as before, the anger he was feeling at Harlene's threat had disappeared.

"Ms. Peverell I can assure you that after our little conversation I had called off every tail that I had set behind you." Tom realized that he was not the only one that was interested in her, there were others.

"Oh, really?" Harlene said with a sarcastic tone, she did not believe him.

"Yes, I am not lying to you." Tom said in a sincere voice. But Harlene grimaced at him.

"But you see, I can't really believe you." Harlene told him by tilting her head a little.

"It's up to you whether you want to believe it or not. But I am speaking the truth. I haven't told anyone to sneak into your room, and not to mention attack you. Never to attack you."

"Before, I only asked them to tail you so that I could know more about you. I don't have any reason to attack you, do I?" Tom tried to reason with her.

Harlene had calmed down a lot so she could see that he was speaking the truth. She frowned that she lashed out on him without even thinking about it properly. She averted her eyes from him tried to think this through. Her hands slid down from her hips as she thought this through.

Tom understood that she had calmed down and she had realized that he had no involvement on her attack. He put a hand on her shoulder and spoke in a soothing voice,

"Harlene, can you think of anyone that would try to harm you? Because I am worried, that if the person attacked you in your room then that means that he or she knows their way into the common room. They might be someone from inside the House. It can be very dangerous."

Tom's voice was full of worry for her, his face full of emotion. Harlene looked into his eyes. She was afraid about this unknown attacker. She didn't even notice the hand that was lying on her shoulder. She didn't even notice that he was calling her by her first name.

"I-I don't know." Harlene's voice faltered a bit. "I couldn't see anything, as he was under a disillusionment charm. I could only see blurry edges of the figure."

"It's okay, don't worry we'll sort it out. Don't worry we will find out who this person is. I will help." Tom said in a sincere voice.

Harlene's eyes shot up at him in surprise. Was this really the infamous Tom Riddle speaking? He sounded so…concerned.

Harlene just nodded in response. Her heart had started to beat fast as she stared at those beautiful icy blue eyes and it had nothing to do with the attacker. Tom gave her a little smile.

Tom slid the hand down from her shoulder, making her feel a little uncomfortable without it. There was an awkward silence between them as they stood there.

"I am sorry." She said after a while in a small voice. Tom looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"About lashing out at you without thinking." She said with grimace. "I shouldn't have blamed you like that."

"Well, I can't really blame you, can I?" Tom said in a light voice. His hands were in his trousers' pocket.

An awkward silence washed over them again, which Tom broke by speaking up, "Well lunch had probably started. I am sure we can catch desert if we hurry up."

Harlene nodded her head at that. They stepped towards the common room door when Tom stopped in mid-step. "Oh, Ms. Peverell why don't you go ahead. I have Arithmancy after lunch, and I have left the book at my room. I will just go and fetch it."

"Okay, then I will see you later." Harlene left Tom to retrieve his book.

.

.

Tom met with Abraxas on his way to the Great Hall. He was returning from lunch when he saw Tom coming towards the Hall.

"Riddle, what happened there?" Abraxas asked Tom as he closed in. Tom looked at him. He recalled what happened at the common room.

Slowly a smile crept on his face. There was a malicious glint in his eyes as he spoke,

"It appears that an excellent opportunity has…presented itself."

Tom said with a silky smooth voice to Abraxas, which brought a shudder down his spine.

.

.

.

Lionel McMillan walked towards the snowy white building. He didn't even look at the passing pedestrians as he and his companion made their way through Diagon Alley.

His companion's silver hair was a little longer than before. It was longer and also it wasn't backcombed anymore. A strand of silver hair fell on top his forehead. His pale blue eyes held a very slight dangerous glint. Gellert Grindelwald was after all, a very dangerous man.

The pair made their way to the bank of Gringotts. They came in front of an elderly goblin who was weighing gold coins. The goblin looked up at them from his work.

"We wish to speak with director of Gringotts. It's a matter of great urgency." Lord McMillan said in a booming voice.

The elderly goblin nodded in reply and left to fetch the director. He returned with another goblin that was slightly taller than him.

"I am Ragnok the fifth, the director of Gringotts. How may I help you?"The newcomer asked the two wizards in a raspy voice.

"Why don't we talk somewhere private?" Lord McMillan said, tilting his head. The goblin gave a short nod and took them to a chamber behind the front hall. It was a round chamber with a wooden table in the middle, the chamber was lit with torches hanging from the walls.

When they entered the chamber and closed the door behind them the goblin turned around to speak. But before he could say anything Lionel brought out his wand and used the imperious curse on the goblin. Instantly the goblin's eyes became hazy.

"Now, we may talk." Grindelwald spoke for the first time, as he settled down onto a chair. He crossed his legs and waited for the interrogation to start.

"Now Ragnok, tell us what you know about Ms. Harlene Peverell." Lionel asked the imperioed goblin as he paced in front of the goblin. "And tell us everything."


AN: This chapter is a bit short. sorry :(

But hope it won't disappoint any of you. Now quick quiz.

1. Who do you think the figure belonged to?

2. Does Tom had anything to do to it?

Enjoy :)

P.S.- I used a line from Sherlock(BBC). Moriarty said it to Irene in front of Sherlock in the phone.

Guess which line is it? ;) :P