Author's Note: Clearly, I cannot keep a schedule with updating this story. *sigh*
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter.
Harry and Tom stood next to the bright red train, people all around them, some excited others nervous. But, with Tom and Harry? They were both happy, Hogwarts was their first home and while things happened in the school that they could have done without, it still meant a lot to the both of them. And this train would lead them there. "After you." Tom said, unlinking their entwined arms. Harry grinned at him and climbed into the train, Tom quickly following after one last look at the outside of the Hogwarts Express. "There will be less people in the back." Harry said as he saw Tom enter. "Or at least people that are easier to deal with?" Tom asked, one brow perked up. Harry chuckled, "Exactly, the Slytherins won't ask as many questions, or at least I hope not." Tom hummed, "They will be curious sure, but we will supply them with enough answers to get them off of our backs, should we encounter any."
Reaching the last compartment, Harry slid open the door, glad to see that it was empty. Sitting down next to the window he looked out at the station, watching kids hug their parents and wave. Tom sat across from him, also looking out the window, "It has been a long time since I have been in this train." He said. Harry looked at Tom's reflection in the window, "Does it bring back memories?" He asked. "It does, some pleasant others… annoying." Tom replied trying to think of a fitting word. Harry grinned, "I know what you mean." Tom looked at him, "You would, wouldn't you?" He said, mouth quirking up. Harry turned his head, just as the door to their compartment slid open.
"Ah. Have room for one more?" Draco asked. Harry paused and a smile pulled at his lips. "Of course!" He said motioning to the seat next to him. Draco nodded, "Thank you." Tom gave Harry a questioning look, it was easy to see the resemblance, so it was clear Draco was Lucius's son, but what Harry wanted him here for he had no idea. "I don't believe I have seen the two of you before?" Draco spoke up, eyeing them both suspiciously. "And you definitely don't look like first years." He added on. "We are transfers. From Durmstrang." Harry replied nonchalantly. "So late, though?" Draco asked. "Yes, we were coming back home. To visit our family more often." Tom cut in. "I see. Well, pleasure to meet you then. My name is Draco Malfoy." Draco said, offering his hand. Harry eyed the hand wondering if he should refuse to take it just for the fun of seeing Draco offended. No, I'll accept this time around. He took the hand, "Cidium Ater." He offered, shaking the hand briefly. "Nex Ater." Tom said after, only shaking the hand once. Draco hummed, "Haven't heard your names before." Tom gave him a blank look, "We aren't mudbloods if that is what you are inferring." Draco raised his hands, "No need to get touchy, I was curious is all. Can't say I am a fan of those." He said, disgust coloring his voice at the end.
Harry grinned, "I think we will get along, Malfoy." Draco turned to look back at Harry, "It is a possibility." Tom looked back out the window as the train began to move, parents were crying and waving their tissues as their kids rode by. He sneered, pathetic. It won't even be more than a few months, they act as if their children are going off to war. He thought. Harry looked at him and nudged his foot, giving a small smile to calm him. Tom cleared his face and focused back on Malfoy. "So, tell us about Hogwarts. We have only heard a few things from fellow students."
Draco had explained to them about what the different houses were and how they worked. He told them about all the classes they offered, insulted Dumbledore and the Gryffindors, and told them how the Slytherins were really the best out of all the houses. Tom rose a brow, "I am to assume that you are a Slytherin?" Draco rose his head, "Of course! As if a Malfoy would be sorted into any other house." He snuffed. Harry chuckled, "Would you automatically hate us then if we were sorted into this Gryffindor place?" Draco quieted down, "Well, you both seem like Slytherins, but if you were sorted into Gryffindor, then it is possible I would grow to detest you." Draco replied. Harry shrugged, "Not that it matters, I think Nex and I will be sorted into Slytherin anyways, right Nex?" Harry asked facing Tom. "Yes, it seems to be the most bearable of the four." He replied. Draco nodded, "Much more than bearable, but you will soon see for yourselves."
The train came to a slow stop and now dressed in their school robes, Harry and Tom followed Draco off of the Hogwarts Express. Harry admired the night sky and looked around them, taking in the awed faces of the younger students, just wait until you see the castle. He thought amused. Continuing on the path, they all climbed into a cart, a few other sixth years joining them. Who they were he did not know, but glancing at their robes he saw that they were from Ravenclaw. Harry watched the muscles move in the Thestrals bodies as they pulled the carts down the dirt road, making their way to Hogwarts. "Aren't those twins over there hot, Marcy?" One Ravenclaw whispered into her friends ear, nudging the girls shoulder as they looked over Tom and Harry. "I know, Veronica! But don't forget Draco, just look at them." The girl named Marcy silently squealed back. Tom sent a cool look their way and both girls cowered slightly, looking away abashed. Harry snickered, "No need to be rude, Nex." He said softly. Tom only let out a slight huff, "They were bothersome." Draco only looked at them curiously, not having heard what the girls said.
Harry cast a nonverbal Privacy Charm around him and Tom, "Say, Tom? What did you do with your wand?" Harry asked. Tom looked impressed at the use of wandless and silent magic, before he replied, "I added a few more runes to my ring than I did to yours, allowing glamours to hide what my wand looks like, as Dumbledore would be all too familiar with it." Harry nodded, "That makes sense, especially since I have a new wand myself. Also, no need to look so impressed, I didn't just train my body in those few weeks you worked on our rings." He said, running his fingers along his own. "Yes, now take down the charm. We don't want the others to get suspicious." Harry smirked, "Fine." But before he did he kissed Tom on the cheek. Tom froze slightly and gave Harry a small glare, Harry only grinned back. "What was all of that about?" Draco asked. "Just my brother being an idiot." Tom replied casually. Harry beamed, "It was worth it!" He chirped. Draco only gave them a bemused look before shrugging it off, "You two…"
The cart pulled to a stop and the Ravenclaw girls quickly made their way off, Harry and Tom following in a more calm manner. Draco right behind them. Harry and Tom turned to face the castle, making a show of widening their eyes, "Nex! Look at that!" Harry whispered loudly. Tom turned to his twin, "I see it Cidium." Draco gave them a smug look, "It is beautiful, isn't it?" Harry turned to him, "It's amazing!" He called, dragging Tom a bit closer to the castle as he moved forward. You are a fine actor, Harry. He thought as he watched the young wizard gawk up at Hogwarts. "This is only the outside you two, come on let us go inside." Draco called as he had already moved closer to the doors. Harry followed excitedly, "Hurry up, Nex!" Tom stepped next to Harry, "Well, let's go then." Harry gave him a small smile and linked their arms, "We're coming Draco!" He called. Draco only crossed his arms, "Any day now." He replied.
"Will you two be sorted along with the first years?" Draco asked them as he led them to the dining hall. "I assume so." Tom told him as Harry was too preoccupied turning his head every which way. "I see, then we might want to speed up our pace a bit, seeing as the first years are already inside." Draco told them, and pulling open the two doors they stepped into the room. Draco waved them goodbye as he stepped over to the Slytherins table, Tom and Harry remained by the doors. Dumbledore who was previously smiling at all of the first years, perked up at the sight of them, "Ah! Cidium and Nex Ater, I take it?" He called over all of the hushed conversations. "Yes, sir!" Harry replied, his heart thumping in excitement. "Come over, boys. I will allow the two of you to be sorted first, seeing as this is new, we haven't ever had transfer students that were already sixth years." Dumbledore said, waving them over to the stool. Harry and Tom walked over, passing anxious first years on their way. "Everybody," Dumbledore said, "As I have said earlier, this is Cidium Ater and Nex Ater, transfer students from Durmstrang. Please make them welcome!" Dumbledore announced. Harry and Tom turned to the students, giving a slight bow in greeting.
"Now, Cidium. Please take a seat on the stool." Dumbledore told him, Harry nodded and felt Mcgonagall place the hat on his head. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Mr. Potter again." The hat rasped into his mind. "Hello. If you would please get on with it, you have said before that I suit Slytherin, so go ahead and place me there." Harry told him. "Fine, Potter, no need to be so pushy." The hat grouched. "Slytherin!" It called out. Only for the Slytherins to applause for their new housemate. Harry stood up and patted Nex on the shoulder as he passed by, "You better get Slytherin too, or I'll be pissed." He whispered, continuing on his way to the table that had clapped for him. "Hello!" He said, taking a seat next to Malfoy. "Hello, Cidium." Draco greeted. Harry turned to see Tom seated on the stool, the ragged hat on his head.
"Now this is a surprise, I never expected to see you here again, Tom Riddle." The hat said. "Why must you talk so much?" Tom asked annoyed, "Place me in Slytherin." The hat sighed, "What is it with you two? It's not like I get to talk very often." The hat said sulking. "Slytherin." Tom reminded. The hat sighed once more, "Yes, yes. I know." "Slytherin!" He yelled out once again. The Slytherins, cheered again as Tom placed the hat back on the stool. He made his way down and over to the table, taking the spot next to Harry, "That hat is troublesome." He said softly into Harry's ear. Harry snorted, "I know." Draco focused back onto them after the first years were sorted, only three of them joining the Slytherins.
Blaise seated on the other side of Draco, turned to Harry and Tom, "Interesting that you would transfer in your sixth year." He mentioned. "Is it?" Harry returned. Blaise nodded, "Not in your second year or even late in your first, so why your sixth?" Tom looked at him, "We came back to see our family, it had been awhile. Why do you find that so interesting?" He returned. Blaise shrugged, "As the Headmaster stated before, it's a first." Harry rose a brow, "Well, it's nice to know we interested you then, I guess." He said before turning to the food before them. The other Slytherins that had been listening in also turned to eat, though occasional glances would be thrown their way. "Who would have thought Slytherins were such an inquisitive bunch." Harry muttered to Tom, as he cut into a piece of a steak. "It is good to know more about your potential enemies, Cidium. But, I'm sure that the questions will die down quickly." He said, taking a bite of his own steak. Harry hummed. Draco had turned his attention back to his food and friends, mainly Blaise, as Goyle and Crabbe conversed amongst themselves.
"Did you hear about Potter, Blaise?" Draco asked. Blaise swallowed his vegetables before answering, "No, but now that you mention it I don't see him at the Gryffindor's table?" He asked. "That's because he murdered his family, tortured them until they died, he was put in Azkaban. A few days later though, he apparently escaped." Draco informed. Blaise's eyes widened, "Really? Now that is interesting, why would he kill his own family? Did he just snap?" Draco shrugged, "I'm not sure, but you know, there were rumors going around that his family abused him. Not likely though, I think the Dark Lord was getting to him and like you said he snapped." Blaise shook his head, "Merlin. I have heard about these recent murders though, think that could possibly be Potter too?" Draco looked up, "I hadn't even thought of that! It would make sense, they probably saw him and he killed them to make sure nobody could find out where he has been hiding out." Draco theorized. "Yes, that is possible." Blaise agreed.
Harry smirked at Tom. Smiling Tom turned back to his dinner, "Don't look so proud, Cidium." He said softly. "Ah, Nex. Everyone is talking about my lovely work though." He replied equally as quiet so no one would over hear them. Tom sighed. Narcissistic little demon. He thought amused. Harry grinned, as he saw Tom's lips twitch upwards.
Author's Note: I have just realised… Hedwig is missing! Honestly, I'll have to get her back into the story somehow. I'll come up with something, worry not. :)