Forget me not

Chapter VIII

In a dream

"I hope you won't refuse me this time, Harry," Slughorn gave his favorite pupil a radiant smile. "Miss Granger is invited too."

Harry refrained from sighting theatricaly. Slughorn was hunting for him since the beginning of the school year and it seemed that this time he won't be able to escape and have to go to that silly party. Of course, if he was able to, he would make up another excuse , but he has done it so many times already that there was no chance the Potions Master believes him.

"It'll be a pleasure," Harry replied with a smile and Slughorn was visibly impressed.

The boy quickly ran away and was near the stairs before his teacher could cast another series of compliments at him; compliments he didn't deserve, Harry might add.

You're in a very good mood today, Tom noticed.

Oh, you know, I had no choice. Besides, I'm even a little grateful to Slughorn – he won the quidditch match because of him. I got Feliv Felicis from him.

And I thought you won thanks to your extraordinary skill, Riddle sneered.

That too, of course, Harry laughed. But at least Ron believed he could win, it was all he needed. Harry with satisfaction recalled the look on Ron's face, when he saw a complete and intact bottle of the elixir.

Where are we going? Tom asked after a moment, seeing that they're not going to the library, where to horror of his firends and Hermione's delight Harry was recently spending most of the time.

I don't know... I don't want to come across Hermione - she's terribly unbearable since Ron began to date Lavender. Harry wished he didn't have to think about his best friend in such way, but it was unfortunately true.

And what about you? Didn't you think about dating a girl? Tom asked with curiosity, but it seemed to Harry sthat there was something behind this question.

You know, first things first, I have to save the world, Harry said evasively. So many strange things are happening in the school now - Katie attacked by some ancient curse, now Malfoy didn't show up at the match..."

Don't worry about Malfoy, he won't do you any harm, Tom said it with such certainty as if he knew what Malfoy was up to.

In that case, who is hunting for? Harry asked, but didn't get any answers.

...

Christmas had come faster than Harry expected. Time passed quickly between the onslaught of his homework, training, observing Malfoy (Harry was sure that he was up to something) and lessons with Tom. Yes, the lessons were still taking place, because Riddle claimed that the level of education at Hogwarts fell terribly low, and besides, it was in no way preparing Harry to face Voldemort. Sometimes Harry had to admit Tom was right – frankly, he doubted that he will ever get the chance to prepare a portion of the Draught of Living Death for Voldemort or to transform him in, let's say, a dolphin. Only lessons with Dumbledore were useful - although Harry still couldn't convince the headmaster that Tom Riddle is not Voldemort, it was interesting to learn so much about his past. Harry knew that Tom would never tell him everything that Dumbledore showed him in the memories.

But there was one fundamental problem - lessons with Tom had to take place at night, so that no one could see that Harry is disappearing for long hours. The boy knew that the teachers were watching him carefully. He felt Dumbledore and McGonagall observing him almost all the time. But Snape was bothering him the most – sometimes Harry had the impression that the hated teacher knows exactly what's in the diary he's carrying with him. Therefore Harry, to avoid suspicions, was studying at night and was sleepy all the time.

Besides, Harry still hasn't invited anyone to Slughorn's Christmas party. He would like to take Tom with him, because he knew that he has a healthy approach towards this type of events. But apart from such obvious obstacles like Tom being a memory and the less obvious ones - he was after all Voldemort's memory, Harry thought that him coming with a boy would arouse a lot of interest. Therefore, in order not to create unnecessary sensationa (as if he already wasn't one), Harry decided to invite a girl. One December morning he shared this decision with Tom, which caused laughter of the latter:

I thought you'd take me. Harry wasn't sure if it was a joke or not, so he decided not to comment. Who has caught your eye?

To be honest - no one. I feel the same way as before the Yule Ball, Harry sighed with annoyance.

Jthey were eating breakfast. Or rather Harry was eating and Tom stood behind him. Sometimes he would walk around the Great Hall, looking at pupils whose parents or grandparents he knew, having a lot of fun with no one seeing him. Sometimes Harry had the impression that the ghosts could sense Tom's presence, but so far none of them initiated an alarm. Now Tom looked around the room and an exceptionally mischievous smile appeared on his face:

Lets think... Hermione Granger?

She was supposed to go with Ron, but they're not talking to each other, so she's going with Cormac to make Ron jealous I guess.

Girls can fall so low, Tom remarked and then added: What about Parvati Patil? You've been to that other ball with her, right?

Yes, and to this day she won't talk to me.

Not only you cannot kiss, but you're also a terrible dancer? Tom joked, although he knew that he's on thin ice now. Harry was awfully touchy when it came to kissing. Maybe I should give you a few lessons?

No, thanks, Harry drawled.

He had to make a really unpleasant face, because several first years looked at him fearfully. Something like that was happening to him from time to time. Not always was he able to control his facial expressions when talking to Tom. The latter was of course terribly amused. Harry silently thanked the heavens that Ron and Hermione had quarreled, because thanks to this they weren't paying much attention to him.

You know I'm always at your service, Riddle said. Wait, is this Ginny Weasley? He pointed at the redhead Gryffindor. She has grown up so much!

She changed over the last few months, Harry noticed, but then the meaning of Tom's words came to him suddenly. What do you mean by "she has grown up"?!

Well, when I saw her up close for the last time, she was in her first grade, Riddle answered evasively.

What do you mean?! Harry was now screaming. He couldn't imagine that Tom spoke with someone other than him.

Don't tell me you're jealous? Tom laughed, though a shadow of hope could be heard in his voice.

What?! Are you kidding me?! You pompous, egotistical, arrogant narcissus! Harry swung his arm to hit Riddle so violently that he dropped a whole plate with toasts from the table. A little girl squealed with fright and hid behind a pitcher of pumpkin juice.

Riddle laughed loudly, but nobody besides Harry could hear it. Even the teachers were now looking with curiosity and concern towards the Gryffindor table, trying to guess what infuriated the Chosen One so much.

You really should invite me, my dear, Tom added, before a fork flied in his direction.

...

Snape made an Unbreakable Vow to Malfoy's mother.

I see it doesn't impress you?

I would prefer to know if you had a good time with Miss Lovegood.

It was pretty... nice.

I'm glad.

Tom, don't you see that Malfoy is up to something?!

Don't yell at me. Of course that I see it, but I don't intend to do anything about it. What about your Christmas? Sitting here all the time was terribly inconvenient. And deadly boring.

You know that the Burrow was protected. I couldn't take you there, it would be too dangerous.

You're worried about me? Who would have thought.

You're terribly snappy lately. What happened?

Nothing, nothing of course. Sometimes I just regret I cannot be with you more. Always.

I can manage on my own.

You are my soul mate, Harry, I have to take care of you. But you hasn't told me yet, how it was at the Burrow?

The Minister wanted to persuade me that I should work for the Ministry. I refused.

Why?

Because I would be just a propaganda puppet in their hands.

You would give people hope.

False one. I prefer to first defeat Voldemort. And if we're talking about this: when are we starting our hunt?

From what I remember, Dumbledore told you to get a memory, right?

Tom, you can always spoil everything.

You have wrong attitude towards this task.

What do you mean?

And I thought that you finally learned how to use your brain after lessons with me...

Tom, what do you mean?

Tom?

Tom!

...

Harry tried to get that memory in many ways - asking, threatening, even crying, but none of it worked. In addition, he noted that Slughhorn started avoiding him, which didn't make this task easier. Tom was making things even worse, because he was laughing quietly in the background all the time seeing Harry's efforts. The boy didn't know what was so funny about it, but felt like an idiot.

After Ron almost died because of poisoning, Harry began to seriously worry about safety at school. He suspected that Malfoy is behind all these incidents, but he couldn't prove anything. It only made him terribly annoyed and was growling at Ron and Hermione at every opportunity - they couldn't understand what burden was upon Harry had the impression that only Tom is able to understand his situation.

One night, when Harry completed all his homework and it was time for a lesson with Tom, he felt extremely exhausted. He had no strength for anything and knew that there are at least a few hours of excercises ahead.

...

The room looked as usual – Harry was always walking into the memory through it. He suspected that this building is the Riddle's House, the one he saw in Dumbldeore's memories. This time Tom wasn't waiting for him, so Harry unwittingly sat down in the soft armchair. Warmth from the fireplace and silence reigning in the house made him completely peaceful and after a moment Harry closed his eyes. He told himself it was just for a few minutes, but before he noticed, he fell into a deep sleep.

During this time Tom was walking around the room on the first floor visibly nervous - Harry was late half an hour already, which meant that they've lost a lot of time. It might seem that Riddle was only annoyed, but he actually began to feel a slight uneasiness. Harry was never late. What could have stopped him? Tom had seen the darkest scenarios before his eyes and walked across the room from one corner to another.

What was his astonishment when he saw the boy in his own armchair. He couldn't help smiling - Harry looked like a sixteen year old boy should - his face wasn't showing the usual signs of worry and concern for the whole world.

Tom didn't have the heart to wake his student up - he could forgive him falling asleep this one time. Maybe he was really too demanding.

But just looking at the sleeping Gryffindor wasn't the best idea - the armchair was certainly not the most convenient and Harry's head began to tilt dangerously and threatened him with an imminent collapse.

Tom did what he thought was right. He lifted Harry gently and laid him in his bed. He had to admit that the boy looked lovely. Light from he fireplace made the shadows under his eyes stand out more, but Tom didn't consider it to be disfiguring.

He couldn't stop himself and brushed Harry's dark hair.

The boy moved slightly in his sleep.

Tom felt a twinge of fear - Harry probably won't be delighted if he sees him in such an ambiguous situation.

But to his surprise Harry, still asleep, grabbed his hand and murmured softly:

"Don't go."

Tom leaned over him for a moment and wondered whether he really should do it. Harry probably wouldn't believe him if he said that he asked for it...

"I was cruelly killing and torturing and now I'm afraid to stay with him?" Tom scolded himself and made a decision.

Slowly, he lay down next to Harry, trying not to wake him up. As soon as he found himself next to the boy, Harry greedily grabbed his shirt and nestled into his neck.

"We are so alike, Harry," Tom thought before he too fell asleep.