Ch. 11

Quickening Dangers

As the present came nearer to the diary entries, it should be noted that Harry Potter's Fourth Year, of which he was currently in the middle of, was a turning point for both the fledging Dark Wizard and his boyfriend, the Dark Lord Tom Riddle, who was currently under the guise of Thomas Blackthorn. As such, in order to bridge the gap of then and now and soon to be, a further examination of Harry's meticulous diary entries is required. With hope this shall be the last of our examinations as past and present become, once more, equal.

August 19th

I missed yesterday. A lot happened. I hate when events like these happen when Tom is not around. He is still by the Riddle Manor, fixing it up to make it livable. However, from the letters he sent me, it seems that he had to hide as Voldemort returned there with the rat. I hope he is safe.

Anyway, last night was the Quidditch World Cup. However that feels like a lifetime ago. It was Ireland versus Bulgaria, Ireland won but Bulgaria's seeker, Victor Krum, got the snitch. However that wasn't what I remember from last night. Death Eaters. Destruction. That's what I remember. And that emerald skull hanging in the starry night. A crowd of masked men torturing muggles hanging in the air by their wands, laughing and burning tents as they walked. We ran, I wanted to hurt them for what they've done to the muggles but I lost my wand in the scramble. I was knocked out, I don't know what happened, but next thing I knew I saw a man aiming a wand in the air, my wand it turned out, and he casted something called the Dark Mark into the air. It was the large emerald skull with a snake for a tongue. It's Voldemort's mark. The Death Eaters seemed to ran away from it, however, and somehow a house elf named Winky came to have my wand.

She was released from her owner, Barty Crouch, and we were sent home early. I'm back in the Burrow now, everyone is safe, no one is hurt, however I am scared about what this might mean. I have a few ideas however I've sent a letter to Tom to confirm. I don't care if the Dark Lord is in our manor, I need my boyfriend here so we can plan on what to do with him. In the meantime, however, I need sleep.

August 20th

I got a reply from Tom. It was short and to the point. 'I can't leave, I'm learning a lot from the snakes. Be with you as soon as I can. Be Good.' That bastard! Here I am almost dead and he's just living right next to our enemy! I know they're different people, but I swear when I kill the Dark Lord I'll make sure it hurts extra just to get my frustration out at Tom, Master or no! Anyway, the Prophet is all over this attack, saying that it was drunkards. No word or even thought of Voldemort still being alive. I have a feeling they're going to ignore his existence to live in a fake peace… could have worded that better.

I've trained today like a good little Dark Wizard. It's hard keeping it a secret, especially since some spells can be quite flashy and loud. However recently I've been practicing the Killing Curse a lot, it works the same if you whisper it or shout it apparently. Which is very helpful but also very scary. I also saw Cedric Diggory come over and spend some time with George. They were gone for a long time and I might have caught them in the middle of something. They didn't see me but I saw them behind the stone wall. Naked, Cedric was over George. They were grunting, yet it sounded very good… I saw Cedric's you know go into George. It made me felt very weird yet good watching it. Was that sex? I should ask George about it later… is that what is going to happen with Tom and I? Will he put his member inside me? I haven't even thought of that, or that my butt can be used that way!

It's both exciting and frightening at the same time.

September 1st

There's to be the Triwizard Tournament here! Apparently, that was what was so secretive that the Ministry was going on about. Three schools compete in it. Hogwarts, Beauxbaton, and Durmstrang. I wonder how they will arrive and how whoever will compete in the Triwizard Tournament will be picked. I'm happy that this is going on, and so is Tom however I think it's for different reasons. I can't wait to watch the tournament while Tom told me that the tournament is a perfect distraction. We can practice the Dark Arts in peace, and nobody will know. I asked him what Voldemort was planning, and he told me little, apparently, he couldn't get close enough to really find out. All he knew was that it involved some graveyard near the manor. Tom told me he got a glimpse of Voldemort. He was disgusting, small, like a rotten baby. Maybe whatever he's planning involves getting a body? I hope it fails.

Anyway, we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody. An Ex-Auror. He fight and caught Dark Wizards for a living. He's a strange man, looks very jumpy and paranoid, which according to Ron he is.

September 2nd

I hate Blast-Ended Skrewts. That's all I'm saying.

September 5th

Moody taught us the Unforgivable Curses—or, I should say, he shown them to us. I was scared that he was going to out me somehow, like he somehow knew that I know them, that I can perform them. He's a dangerous one, I need to tell Tom to be careful with him. I think we need to find a new place to practice, somewhere unfindable by any means.

October 30th

The students arrived. I couldn't believe it, Viktor Krum is a student from Durmstrang! I have to say up close I can see why people find him very attractive, however it doesn't really matter does it? I have Tom.

Anyway, the Headmasters will be the judges, along with Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman. The contestants will be picked by this old stone goblet called the Goblet of Fire. They place their names into it and the Goblet will pick tomorrow during the Halloween feast. Dumbledore's placed an age line to prevent students who aren't of age to compete. I feel like I would want to if I haven't found Tom. Who wants eternal glory anyway? My goals are better and more satisfying in the long run.

October 31st

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

November 1st

Feeling somewhat better after talking with Tom and Blaise about it. I sent a letter to Sirius about me being picked after Hermione told me to. Ron hates me now, or at least he's jealous. Thinks I actually wanted this stupid competition! Lord knows how the school is going to react. I know one thing however: someone is trying to kill me. Shame though, whoever planned this trap didn't think of my extracurricular lessons…

I will kill the rat; however I think I should practice first before I find him.

November 13th

I hate Rita Skeeter. Also her outfit is trash and make-up looks always smeared. That is all.

November 18th

Tom and I had a very good lesson, I'm learning so much Dark Arts! However, it was what happened afterwards that I want to write down and remember. Tom grabbed me roughly and kissed me with surprising strength and ferocity. A Master claiming his pet. That's how it felt like, and it felt so right. He shoved me to my knees… had me take my shirt off and just kneel there in front of him. We were both quiet, both still. He then walked around but ordered me to stay still. I did so. I did not know how long I've stayed on my knees, however even after they started hurting, I didn't even think of getting up. I would never refuse my Master. Tom returned when he was ready, pulled me up into another kiss and we left, me shirtless him fully clothed and we walked like this until we were at Gryffindor Tower. It was exhilarating!

November 24th

The First Task was today. It was against a dragon, I had to capture a golden egg that it was guarding, and I did so using flying and several… undescriptive spells to distract the dragon as it chase me on my broom. It was as if I was playing a very dangerous game of Quidditch with a murderous opposing Seeker. I never want to do it again. I'm just happy that Ron and I patched things up. The egg is the clue to our second task, however when I opened it, all that came out was an ear-piercing unhuman scream. I have no idea what I will do with this. I hope that after this people will start to believe me that I did not want to enter this tournament. God knows what that Skeeter woman will write about this.

December 1st

Tom and I suspect the Headmaster of Durmstrang to be the one who placed my name in the Goblet of Fire. He's an ex-Death Eater according to Sirius, and he always had a strange look whenever he stared at me. That, or he's homophobic like Wood was. …and a good amount of people here, but I don't want to think about that for now. For now, we're continuing our training and I've convinced George to tell me about some things I've saw him, and Cedric do during the summer. I've confessed that I saw them in the bushes and instead of yelling, George just laughed before telling Fred, who joined in. Talk about embarrassing.

December 8th

I now know why we were asked to bring Dress robes this year. During Christmas night we will be having the Yule Ball, and as one of the four champions, I must attend with a date. Naturally I'll be bringing Tom, however I do not know how to dance in the slightest. However, I must confess, I am not scared of looking a fool with my lack of dancing skills in front of the school, but how they will perceive Tom and myself. For while we do meet up for dates, it's in secret. We don't openly hold hands… none of us do, I feel. George barely talks about him and Cedric openly, only with close friends and even then… I can sense a fear that I myself feel like. We're always hiding ourselves, hidden behind corners, in closets or shrubbery… never kissing in the open or passional locking lips in the disgusting display straight couples do. It is disgusting really, how open those other couples can be, how boys can basically grope and fuck a girl in the hallway yet if I try to hold Tom's hand I get stares. What will happen at this ball when they see me dancing with a boy?

Maybe Cedric can help.

December 16th

I finally got a chance to ask Cedric. He and George had a long talk about it and decided it would be better if Cedric went with Cho Chang. Cowards. It made me only more confident. I will go with Tom, we will present ourselves as a united front… and fuck anyone who tries to stop us. I really should stop swearing, but it's my diary. Tom got some idea of how we can ascertain if Karkaroff is the one who placed my name in the Goblet. Though, as usual, he's being secretive. All he would tell me is, "Wait for the ball my pet. It'll be very interesting." The boy can't just let a night go by normally, can he?

December 24th

I tried on my dress robes just to make sure they fitted correctly. Late, I know, however you can never be too sure. Wizarding fashion is truly bizarre. I mean, These robes look kind of like a normal suit, same bland coloring of white and black, however there were frills around the wrists and, like a tailcoat, the robes hung low in the back for no reason and looked annoying. However, since I am bad with scissors and modifying in general, I guess I'll have to suffer with it. At least the back doesn't hang towards my feet, instead stopping around my ankle, but still I don't generally like having something hang behind me that's just in the back. A cloak is different, as is a general robe as those are supposed to be worn like that, but a suit? Just no.

.

And so, all caught up, the scene of the Yule Ball can begin, with hopefully Harry forgiving the reader for peering into his most private thoughts and feeling so freely as they have done. Now, without further ado, the decoration of the Great Hall during the Yule Ball…

The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people. The champions all entered last with their dates. As told, Cedric walked with his friend Cho Chang, who looked pretty in her dress as the two smiled and walked together in a friendly manner. The Beauxbaton's champion, a beautiful girl named Fleur Delacour, was with the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain Rodger Davis, which left Krum, the Durmstrang champion, with, much to Harry's shock, Hermione.

Harry knew that he and Tom stuck out from the three other couples, for the obvious reason and others. Still, Harry did his best to keep his head high as they walked across the Great Hall. Dumbledore beamed happily at the champions approached the top table, but Karkaroff wore an expression remarkably sour as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Ludo Bagman, tonight in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping as enthusiastically as any of the students; and Madame Maxime, who had changed her usual uniform of black satin for a flowing gown of lavender silk, was applauding them politely. But Mr. Crouch, Harry suddenly realized, was not there. The fifth seat at the table was occupied by Percy Weasley.

When the champions and their partners reached the table, Percy drew out the empty chair beside him, staring pointedly at Harry. Harry took the hint and sat down next to Percy. Tom gave a final survey of the room before sitting down himself. "This evening seems to be at a good start," he commented, "there are no hissing or glaring… at least not the obvious ones. Hello Percy," he finally addressed.

"Hello. I've been promoted," Percy said, announcing it as though he might have been announcing his election as supreme ruler of the universe. "I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."

"Odd that he's not here," Tom said. "He was here for the first event, correct?"

"Yes—"

"I see, and he's not here," Tom commented again. Percy went into a long winded explanation which Harry only half listened to as, at the same time Percy was speaking, Karkaroff grunted, "Dumbledore, you know that Durmstrang is a cold school, and a traditional school at that."

"Yes, I do remember needing several heavy cloaks on my visit there several years ago," Dumbledore commented. "Must have been before you were headmaster there… Headmaster Varnak… he was a jolly man, but his curriculum was questionable at times."

"Yes, and there we have set standards and definitions of what partners and champions mean, Professor Dumbledore," Karkaroff said.

"Your point, Igor?" Dumbledore asked.

"My point is that this is twice you have insulted us," Karkaroff said. "First with having two champions, and now to have your second champion bring a boy as his partner!"

"Now, now," Madame Maxime said, "I think it iz amusing."

"Amusing—"

"Igor," Dumbledore said warningly. "Our champions are risking their health for this tournament, whomever they choose to bring at this time of celebration is up to them."

Karkaroff scowled and turned to Madame Maxime. "You can't be agreeing with him!"

"At my school, we have a saying, 'boys practice with boys in order to stay with girls.' This is clearly what these two are doing," Madame Maxime said. "It is entertaining, but that is all it is."

"Now, now, Madame," Dumbledore said heartily, though Harry could see that his eyes glimmered with some annoyance, "you cannot expect that to be true for all cases. Especially here."

"Believe what you will Dumblydore, however I know that those two will meet beautiful wives who'll take them away from their amusing games," Madame Maxime said. Dumbledore did not reply to that.

Instead, he looked to the empty golden plate in front of him and picked up the menu laying on top of it politely. He gazed at it for a minute, longer than necessary to read all the items and make up his mind, and said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!"

And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their orders with their plates too. Tom leaned towards Harry and glanced at the two other headmasters. "Strange, isn't it? That Dumbledore argued in our defense," he mused.

"Not everything has to be dark wizards and light wizards, Tom," Harry whispered. "Dumbledore is Dumbledore… he has a strange fixation on the power of love."

"And he should," Tom nodded. "However—"

"I know what we are Tom… but tonight, we're just boyfriends, okay?" Harry said, and his hand reached out for Tom's under the table. Tom took it and brought Harry's hand to his lips, kissing it. "Of course my love," he said, loudly enough for Karkaroff and Madame Maxime to hear, earning him a scowl from Karkaroff and a subtle side-eye from Maxime.

He looked around and frowned, "Strange," he said.

"What is, Tom?" Harry asked.

"Professor Moody isn't here," Tom noted.

"You expected him to?"

"No… however I expected him to make an appearance," Tom said. "I wonder what he is doing."

"Why do you even worry about him?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Tom frowned. "It's just something about him that makes me feel off… you know? Ever since his first lesson."

"Could it be because he's an Auror?" Harry asked lightly.

"Hmm… no, no that's not it at all," Tom said, shaking his head. He thought about it for another moment, "Bah, never mind, no need to worry about it. Besides, we cannot simply leave if we wanted to. You need to do your champion-duties after all."

Harry grimaced. "You'll take charge during that," he said.

"Don't I always?" Tom chuckled.

Once the food was consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.

Harry never heard of the band who took the stage, they all reminded him of furry gremlins as they were all extremely hairy. They picked up the instruments and played a slow, mournful tone as Harry and Tom walked onto the dance floor along with the other champions and their dates. Tom took charge and Harry kept an eye out for any glares and heated looks. Of course, there were plenty from Slytherin, however he was glad to see Blaise give him a huge smile when the couple moved pass him. They danced by Cedric and Cho, who seemed to be having fun, which made Harry think of George. Others started to join in the dance, filling the floor with couples and friends quickly. He looked around and saw George far away sitting by himself. Edging towards the older Weasley, he and Tom moved both clumsy and gracefully across the floor until Harry could see George's face.

"He's so sad," he commented. They turned so Tom could see him. "It must be heartbreaking to not be able to dance with Cedric."

"It was their choice," Tom said. "They knew what would happen. However, you're right in that it is selfish of Diggory." George's eyes never left Cedric and Cho. Harry watched his friend as he and Tom danced together, sending him hopeful looks and smiles but it did nothing to relieve him.

"We should talk with him," Harry said. However no sooner has Harry said that did George stand up to leave. Harry stopped dancing to watch the younger Weasley twin go. Tom watched him too then quickly turned to look at Cedric. "He hasn't noticed…" Harry said as they watched the Hufflepuff continue to dance with Cho Chang.

"There are many dark arts and dangerous spells in the world Harry," Tom commented, "however there is nothing more harming, nothing eviler and more insulting than a forgetful, oblivious lover." Harry nodded in agreement.

His merriment soiled; Harry tugged Tom off of the dance floor. "Let's just go for a walk," he said softly. "Don't feel like dancing anymore." Tom nodded and the two left the great hall for the cold clear night outside. Harry couldn't get George's sad face out of his mind as they walked aimlessly around. Turning corners in the courtyard and out into the field. Neither of them felt like talking, neither of them didn't needed to talk, just content with the other's company.