A/N: Hello, people!
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-Tom and Harry talk. Harry has a "friend". Can y'all guess who it is?
Tom was staring very intently at the individual patterns in the wood on Professor Potter's desk.
Honestly, he wasn't sure of what to feel at the moment. On one hand, his entire class had just learned of what was apparently his greatest fear, and on the other, his professor had just learned of his greatest fear. He didn't know which was worse, and found himself hating both thoughts.
"Tom."
Looking up at the unexpected calling of his name, he found himself staring Professor Potter in the eye. Yet there was no pity to be seen there, nor did Tom find any mockery. His eyes, green as the Killing Curse, simply held knowledge. Knowledge of what though, was still up for consideration.
"Tom, you know that it's perfectly natural to have fears, correct? No person is without some form of fear."
Well obviously. That didn't mean he had to like it.
"To fear a bomb isn't foolish. Especially since you reside in one of the cities that were assaulted by them. You know the danger they possess. It's actually prudent of you to realise how dangerous they are.
"Your classmates are blissfully unaware of the true dangers that lie outside of Hogwarts. They sit here in their luxury, content to know that life is fine for them, whereas in other parts of the world, both magical and Muggle, people are being slaughtered for their beliefs and ancestry. It's a gruesome situation, and while I'd prefer it that no child should learn about that kind of thing, I'm happy at least some of the students are emotionally and mentally prepared."
Potter looked down, fingers twisting his wand around. "You have an advantage over most of the school, Tom. You know first hand, what is out there. You know that Muggles aren't as stupid as your Pureblood acquaintances claim they are. And you know what they are capable of now, and what they might be able to do in the future. After all, since when does anyone ever just leave a creation of theirs as it is? Since when does the creator, or someone else, not come along and try to make it better or stronger?"
Cold dread trailed down Tom's spine at the thought of bombs better than the one that his Boggart had become.
People were always refining potions and spells to make them more effective, so what would stop the Muggles from taking apart a bomb in order to learn how to make it better?
He almost shivered at the thought.
"The fact is, Tom, you never got a chance to wear the rosy glasses of innocence that so blind your fellows. Without all that red blocking your vision, you can see the warnings signs flashing before you, and act accordingly. I have faith that should something bad happen, you'll escape to safety pretty easily. The rest of them… not so much."
While minutely flattered at having the man's faith, Tom was confused.
Potter smiled. "In the Muggle world, warning signs are usually red, to caution you. Children are raised to adhere to those signs simply by identifying the colour. However, if they are too busy in their rose tinted world, where everything comes across in various shades of red and pink, they'll miss the warning signs and meander right into dangerous territory."
Oh. A strange metaphor, but an interesting one nonetheless.
"Now, as for fears, I don't think you'll have to worry about your classmates poking fun, especially after the explanation I gave. However, I'm sure that if you are being bothered by anyone, you'll know how to handle it maturely and without drawing attention."
Tom's smile could fell angels. Professor Potter was giving him permission in a roundabout sort of way, to deal with any potential bullies however he saw fit, so long as he didn't make it obvious that he did it. The man would have been a perfect Slytherin.
"Now, pop on off to lunch. I'm sure you're famished after such a grueling class."
Tom stood and shouldered his bag. He turned to leave, but a thought came to mind.
"Sir, why do you fear Dementors?"
Potter removed his glasses and set them on his desk.
"I was almost Kissed once."
Tom's stomach dropped.
"They weren't supposed to be there though. But they kept coming after me, because opposed to my schoolmates, I had experienced horrors that none of them had ever even thought of. So the Dementors were drawn to me. And if the feeling they bring isn't bad enough, it was what they made me remember."
Potter looked away for a moment, taking a deep breath. "My professor insisted that I was simply fearing fear, but that's not really true. I fear them because they make me relive my mother's murder. Every word, every sound… her screaming most of all."
There was a sort of morbidity in that revelation. Professor Potter, at whatever age, had been forced to witness his mother being murdered. And when Dementors were near, he had to relive something traumatic like that, over and over.
Tom was never a normal child and he'd never really considered much about his parents beyond hating them for not wanting him, but he'd seen what happened to other children who had to witness the death of a family member or friend.
Some of the orphans at the orphanage were very quiet and kept to themselves because they'd seen things.
Interestingly enough, none of those orphans had ever bothered Tom once. Because they understood to some extent that the other children didn't. They were no better than he simply because they got to live with a family for awhile.
So he could understand to an extent how bad it was for a child to see something like that, and how it could shape their character. However, traumatised children were a lot smarter than their peers and were more determined to be better, so if Potter was anything like that, then maybe his trauma helped shape him into who he was currently.
A man to respect.
"Thank you for telling me, sir."
Potter's bland smile didn't leave his mind for the rest of the day.
"Professor Potter is walking beside a handsome man!" Abraxas Malfoy said in a hushed tone, though he was pointing like a fool.
Still, the group of Slytherins all looked over anyway, finding that their favourite professor was indeed walking beside an unknown man. An attractive, unknown man.
Said man had a hand placed on the center of Potter's back and was guiding him through the throngs of shoppers.
"I wonder who he is," Tom heard Greengrass murmur.
"Let's find out," Abraxas decided, already moving to approach the two men.
Nott sent Tom a nervous look, knowing very well that Tom hated it when they acted out, especially when in public.
However, Tom was also curious and decided to spare Abraxas this time. Simply because the other's foolishness would work to his advantage.
"Hello, Professor Potter!"
He was too chipper. It was annoying.
"Hello, Misters Riddle, Malfoy, Greengrass, Nott, and Carrow. Doing any holiday shopping?"
Tom barely repressed the urge to preen at how his name was mentioned first despite the fact that Abraxas was the one who greeted the man. He had dignity after all. He wasn't some rambunctious child.
"I intend to," said Abraxas. "Honeydukes is great during this time of year and allows me to plot ahead of time without spending too much."
Not that he was struggling with money or anything.
Potter merely quirked a brow and looked to his companion, whose angular face was set to a blank expression. "I want chocolate," the professor said to his friend.
His face brightened suddenly.
"Oh, right! This is Mortimer, he's a good friend of mine and will be visiting me a lot, so don't be alarmed if you see him around, okay? Headmaster Dippet has been made aware of his presence, but just in case you see him lurking about and find him questionable, you will say the following phrase. 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' If Mortimer does not respond with 'Mischief Managed', it is not Mortimer and you need to get a professor immediately."
'Mortimer' nodded.
The Slytherins nodded in understanding, and allowed their professor to get on his way with his companion. The two stalked away, Potter's head moving from side to side as he started talking about chocolate.
The five Slytherins shared a look of interest.
Life at Hogwarts was suddenly more intriguing.
A/N: Another is done!
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