Author's Note: Hello, I would just like to share some exciting news with everyone: It's happened. The best thing that can happen to a fanfiction writer.

100th review.

So I just want to give a little love to BorderlineObsessed for the review, and equally as much love to all you reviewers, followers, and favorites. Thank you all so much!

On with the story.

Last Chapter...

The brown haired child's ears grew a little red at the tips, and Lucius Malfoy stood behind him looking smug and ridiculously pleased.

"Well," he smoothly interjected. "Are you going to give Mr. Riddle your introductions or not?" His voice had an underlying current of sharpness. Malfoy may be one of the youngest in their gang, but he clearly had influence regardless.

The brown haired boy gave a sharp nod to Malfoy and gave Harry a small bow.

"My name is Leo Fawley, Heir to the Fawley family of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. I am of the age thirteen years and will be presented this summer." Harry give a small dip of the head, and made to introduce himself.

But before he did, he made eye contact with the man whom had just walked into Great Hall side by side with Albus Dumbledore. Brown eyes examined intensely the scene in front of Harry.

Hadrian tried to ignore the burning interest in the other man's eyes as he looked at Harry, but even as he turned away from the searching gaze of Tom Riddle he still felt it searing into his mind.

He should have never given into his instincts, and should have just been meek to the man in that cellar. He should have avoided any interest sparking for him in Tom Riddle's eyes.

But, oddly enough, Harry really couldn't bring himself to regret it.

Chapter 13

The Big Deal

Tom Riddle's eyes narrowed in and zoomed to one Hadrian Riddle with a razor precision that frightened Albus. It was as if, despite the hundreds of children in the hall, he could immeadiately see where the boy was.

He knew that his story was a gamble, based entirely on Tom's hatred and general opinion of muggles. If Albus was correct in his assumptions, if Tom's immense dislike for the race would overcome his suspicion, then he was in the clear with Hadrian Riddle.

If not...

He just jeopardized the safety and future of a child and his own safety hand-in-hand. And he knew he could only blame himself for being in this situation in the first place, and that really hurt Albus the most.

Walking side-by-side with Albus Dumbledore, Tom made his way to the Head Table. He was to be seated next to the Headmaster's chair as a guest- regardless that the Headmaster in question was not even here.

All the better, Tom was never quite fond of Veers.

But all of these facts were of no true importance or concern to Riddle, as his attention was continually drawn back to the lithe little figure of first year Hadrian, a Gryffindor who was currently seating himself at the Slytherin table for lunch after a confrontation with a gangle of his followers' children.

The boy really was rather like him in many aspects he had seen so far...

Those foul, filthy muggles. He knew he should have burned that orphanage, that place of torment, to the ground years ago. But it would have been to clear to Dumbledore and his already growing suspicions of Tom who had committed the crime. He had been already too close to being caught with the Chamber incident, which most certainly had not been smoothed over the way he had planned.

The sickness of empathy boiled in his veins.

The power of his hate was just as strong.

Harry had to hold back a grin as Leo Fawley introduced himself. That in itself wasn't really the humourous part- it was watching out of the corner of his eye all the Slytherins trying to hide the bafflement on their faces. He had disrupted their normal seating pattern, and now they just looked lost.

But back to the issue at hand, he was not about to be one upped by this kid's snotty introduction. Sacred Twenty-Eight? Two can play that game. Harry at least thought that the Gaunt name was of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.

Oh well, he was about to test it.

"My name is Hadrian Riddle, Heir of the Gaunt family of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. I am of the age eleven years and my presentation will the summer after next." What the hell was a 'presentation' anyway? He saw some of the Slytherins do a bit of a double take on the whole Gaunt thing, but Harry enjoyed it. He was masquerading as a Riddle, might as well use the benefits. It wasn't as if any of them knew who Lord Voldemort really was. And to be clear-

The very, very limited benefits.

Well, Harry could at least rest with the thought that the vile man was not actually any relative of his. Leo Fawley was sputtering a bit, and Harry just smoothly sat back down at the table. James seemed to stare off into space and Sirius was looking at him with wide eyes- but Harry was not too worried. Sirius had a grin to match. He leaned over to Hadrian as the Slytherins dispersed to take their seats.

"Nice one, that was really funny to see their faces. You just owned them!" Sirius whispered excitedly, blowing hot air by Harry's ear.

"I know," Harry said smugly. He turned to his left to ask what James thought of his little cruel joke, but he wasn't there. Instead there sat Malfoy with a small- dare he say it?- smile on his mouth.

"Your acquaintance Mr. Potter, is seated to the right of Mr. Black. I merely thought it appropriate that as the one Professor Slughorn enforced this idea that we socialize during this luncheon. I do believe you are seeing your friends each day, yes? Our contact however is quite more limited, and had gotten off to a rather ill start. Something I would like to rectify, by the way."

Lucius' manner of speech was something he would accept on his adult self but on a twelve year old it was rather...misplaced. "My attitude was poor on the station, and in the hallway. I first had been rather distraught with news from my uncle; my aunt has been killed two weeks ago. It propelled me into such a terrible state that I lashed out on every opportunity. In the hall, well, it was a combination of that and your impressive skills clearly out weighing my own abilities."

From merely glancing at the other faces of the Slytherins, he could verify the truth behind Malfoy's words. Some were clearly shocked or upset that Malfoy told Harry what had happened to his Aunt. Harry knew any familial or personal friend matters were held tight within circles until released as appropriate by the Head of one's family. That would mean Lucius not only released private information to him, but anyone else at the table who did not know. Quite a risk- the Head of the family could be very upset if word got out.

With a silent wave of Professor Dumbledore's hand, the meal arrived, but that wouldn't save Harry from anwering.

"I agree that we had not started our acquaintance in the most positive of fashions. I reacted to you in an immature and weak way by misplacing your luggage. Though I did seek to rectify that- I had undone the enchantments keeping your belongings from drying." Lucius' eyes glittered and he really did smile then, slowly.

"I had wondered if that was permanent or if it would just wear off. I had assumed in this morning that the charms wore off, but now I know they did not. Clever! And I presume, if you'll excuse me, that is the reason you were in the Slytherin common in the first place?" Harry smiled charmingly.

"Well the atmosphere was just so soothing, I had to see if such enjoyment had long term effects."

"Feel free to experiment with that at any time you so please." Yet another statement from Malfoy that was drawing disapproval from his housemates and confusion from Harry. Was this a ploy to observe Hadrian? Either way, he could not deny Malfoy. He gave a small dip of the head and turned to his plate. Everyone else in their center group at the table followed suit. It was quite funny to see that they had- accidentally- waited for him to start his meal first. A sign of high respect.

After Harry finished compiling his meal, he began to carefully and as aristocratically as possible eat his lamb shank with apricot sauce.

What? It's really good! The apricot sauce just really works with the dish.

As they all dug in, chit chat started up and Harry could catch snippets of different conversations.

"And then I said that of course you never wear red, for it's simply Selwyn! How pathetic that rag truly follows in the footsteps of Madame Loisel..."

"...mother says the weather is just dreadful, but I would much rather hear from father. He's a diplomat you know? On a mission to Magical Japan, that's right..."

"Who does he think he is? He has no authority over us! Malfoy is being whimsical by allowing this fool into over very heart, simply because the idiot got drunk on Riddle's magic. I bet it's real weak magic anyway, probably even lying about being a Gaunt descendant. Look at the mudblood, he does not measure up to our glorious House Founder!"

Conversation had slowly died out however, when Leo Fawley began ranting to thin air about Hadrian. Malfoy looked to be building a rage, bristling with indignation. By saying Hadrian's magic was weak he was insulting Malfoy for being affected by it.

Harry was really not appreciating it, and in response released his magic. He didn't ease his classmates into his magic, he just let it crash down on them like a wave. Some had very physical reactions, and heads turned in reaction from other tables.

And that was just a small fraction of what he could release.

Just as Harry opened his mouth to give a stern talk down to the Leo brat, Malloy gently nudged him.

"The Professor Slughorn is coming over to congratulate us all on our House Unity efforts." Harry trapped his magic inside again, but the dazed look still lingered in their eyes. Then when everyone was rearranging their faces to look more normal, Lucius whispered to Hadrian.

"This will most likely be pretty painful." Before Harry could even think to question what he meant, Slughorn was upon them.

"Aha, Hadrian, how are you? Enjoying your lunch?" Slughorn boomed. "I do love to see this fine example of House Unity active!" He was so loud that the rest of the lunchroom couldn't help but look over. Harry felt hundreds of eyes search him out and widen at the Gryffindor emblem on his robes.

This is what Malfoy meant.

"Aw Sluggy, leave the honey alone." The lilting and playful voice of a familiar woman called from the Head Table. Athena wiggled her fingers at Hadrian with a smile.

Slughorn chuckled strongly, and made his way back up to the Head Table.

The woman swirled her drink (which appeared to be wine) around in her glass, while staring Hadrian down. Then she snapped out of it and enthusiastically re-welcomed Slughorn to his seat.

Harry knew the man was harmless in the long run, but did he have to make it such a big deal? Now everyone would wonder of him, if only for a second. He had the spotlight now, but Harry had had that enough in his life.

He just sighed and went back to his meal, and though that was the end of the ordeal.

Until Bellatrix showed up.

Tom stared at the strange woman Professor and her little cut into Slughorn's show off. She stared at the boy for a while longer before snapping out of it.

He did not blame her, he could not keep his eyes of the enigma that was the Gryffindor Hadrian sitting with the Slytherins. And perhaps he felt a tiny personal connection to the child- due of course to the similarities they had and the sick story Dumbledore had revealed.

Foul, filthy muggles they were.

So Tom watched the boy closely without stop, and raised an eyebrow at the arrival of Bellatrix Black. She was only eleven but he had heard boasting tales from Walburga's sister of her daughter's immense talent in duelling. An apparent prodigy- who did not look too happy to see Hadrian sitting at the Slytherins' table. Let alone in the spot of the king, unknowing or not.

He felt suddenly a bit protective of the boy. She began to raise her voice and shout at Hadrian, but he was unfazed and seemed to calmly respond. She eventually grew rosy in the face with anger.

Little self control, Tom noted.

She made to open her mouth again but Hadrian cut her off. When he was done speaking, she just blinked at him and them proceeded to sit down next to him, practically shoving a very disgruntled Malfoy heir out of the way.

She faced him completely on the bench and they talked on for the remainder of lunch. At the end when the students made to leave, she leaned forward and hugged the boy. Hadrian made no move to return the motion and the Malfoy heir had to in the end remove her.

She seemed to apologize from what Tom could tell of their facial expressions. Hadrian said something that caused her to curtsy before flouncing off. The girl seemed to go from hated to adoring him in the span of fifteen minutes.

Then the object of his attention stood to leave with the eldest son of Walburga's and Charlus' offspring trailing behind.

He could do better, Tom noted.

Harry was puzzled but mostly uncomfortable about the occurrence with Bellatrix.

"What is wrong with that girl?" He wondered aloud.

"Beats me," Sirius said shrugging. "I'd say only God knows, but I'm pretty sure it's more likely her origins lie with the place down below...if you understand what I'm saying." There was a moment of silence as the three walked before they all started to snicker.

Which eventually disintegrated into full blown laughter.

And Sirius eyed Harry's joy with satisfaction. It felt great to make his new friends laugh, really it did. His family never failed to fail to find him humorous.

My jokes, he thought smugly, are the best. Here is the proof. I'm amazing!

Hadrian caught his eye, and Sirius only swelled up in more pride as the other boy once again lost his composure.

The game was so on.

History is making itself here and now.

And this time she would be ready, she would not flee. With a sigh she threw away old memories to eye the outdoors.

From the window, she could see only the thick vegetation of the forest and mountains in the distance beyond that. It was misty outside, and generally miserable beyond the glass panes.

Athena primly sat herself on the window seat out of respect.

After all, misery loves company.

And the weather looked like it could compliment her inner suffering just perfectly.

Author's Note: Next up Headmaster Veers will make an appearance...of sorts.