Once Harry was deemed old enough to be left unsupervised in Riddle's office, life took quite a turn. He didn't mind sitting in Tom's class, drawing magical creatures with his trusty quill and letting it dance around the parchment. He also spent some time spying on the class to pick out who's the twitchiest, the loudest, the fastest, or most showy in their other notable traits. One time he tried to distract Tom by speaking parceltongue. He stopped abruptly when he realised the whole class was staring back at him in horror while Tom went on with his class as if nothing happened. He got really told off that day, no treacle tart for whole three months!
The Defence Against the Dark Arts office had the best location in terms of getting up to adventure. It was the only room that was really in use on second floor, the rest were used for club activities so the corridor was practically empty during class. Second floor was where several staircases met to diverge out to different parts of the castle. Harry knew there was one leading downstairs to all the classrooms and the library, one leading upstairs to other floors and one leading to courtyard and the greenhouse.
Harry managed to distract Tom just before class by insisting that he should be allowed some time on his broom this weekend. Tom, of course, said he was busy with something and tried to argue about it before quickly realising it was time for him to leave and hurriedly went downstairs to the classroom, forgetting to lock the office door.
It was his third success in being left in the open office; first time was purely by chance that the door was unlocked and later it became more purposeful. Harry wondered how long he could keep it up before Tom realises what is going on.
Once he was out of the office, Harry didn't have a set place to go. He spent the last time checking out where the staircases led to and it was too risky going down to first floor. Harry decided to visit Dumbledore who was on the neighbouring corridor. He reckoned that Tom wouldn't know unless Albus tell on him directly, because even though Albus gave him a job, Tom avoided the old wizard like a plague whenever he wasn't required presence. Harry thought it was one of Tom's weird quirks like avoiding Christmas, because to him, Albus seemed perfectly fine.
Harry went around the round corridor and past the suit of armours into a corner that led to a straight corridor where there was that familiar gargoyle in the middle. Tom had several obligatory meetings with Dumbledore during the past two years at Hogwarts, which he always brought Harry along. Tom seemed to used him to block out Albus as much as possible. It was hilarious in some ways but he really thought that Tom should get a grip on it since he seemed to handle Christmas quite well by now.
Harry's thoughts reached to a stop as he landed in front of the gargoyles. Now this was the fun part.
"Chocolate frogs."
"Ice Mice."
"Fizzing Whizzbees."
"Treacle fudge."
"Fine. Sugar quills, pumpkin pastes, pixie puffs, jelly slugs, pepper imps–"
The stony gargoyles quickly leapt aside.
Dumbledore was sitting at his usual wide table pilled with parchment to glance up at Harry.
"Hello, Albus!"
"Hello, Harry. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Um, the pleasure is all mine. I came because, you know how boring life can get even while living in a great place, I needed someone to talk to."
Dumbledore dropped his quill to meet Harry's eyes. "I'm all yours. What would you like to talk about?"
"It's not anything serious, I just wanted company. You know how I used to sit in Tom's class and only managed to get out this year? Well, it always felt like I didn't belong. I mean it was interesting when Tom would talk about his own experience in defence but it's not like I understand the coursework or can be involved when the class is practicing magic."
Dumbledore nodded in understanding.
"I also realised that I don't have any friends. I don't think I can count Tom, because he is technically my guardian. I don't have any siblings or parents, I'm practically alone in the world if isn't for the one person in my life."
"It is always hard to lose the ones that tie us to this world. In your case, much more so for such event happening at your young age–. I have lost my mother when I was eighteen and my sister not long after. I was gifted with the chance to know them, but I didn't realise the importance at the time, being young, ambitious, proud. I was selfish. I am glad that, unlike me, you already realise the importance of building relationships. If it will be of any comfort, I would like to offer my friendship to you.
"Thank you. I– I didn't know that we'll be talking about this. It sort of just came out."
"I hope that in three years' time, it will be much easier to find friendship in the castle."
"Me too. I just can't wait until I start my first year so that I could actually be around people my age, not that I don't appreciate your friendship."
"I understand completely. How about a lemon drop?"
Harry received the sweet with a courteous, "Thank you."
"If in future, you would like someone to talk to, you will always be welcome in my office."
"I'll probably come back soon. Thank you for everything. I should go back since Tom would check up on me."
"If you get into any trouble you can fault me."
"I'm sure I can talk my way out of it. See you, Albus!" Harry left the bright office.
The walk going back was quiet so Harry assumed class hasn't ended yet.
Harry stealthily slipped behind the door and deposited himself at the desk. He realised that he never knew of his own feelings until he started talking to Albus. He definitely needed more people to talk to.
He waited Tom to come back from class and pretended nothing was amiss. They finally had some time to go to the courtyard when the afternoon was over. Harry flew on his broom while Tom sat in a shade with a book.
That night Harry went to sleep, dreaming of friendship and adventure.