Summary: Tom Riddle, one of the century's most powerful Magus prodigies, claims he doesn't need a Fighter. And he doesn't; Bestia-type Fighter Harry Potter just happens to be a convenience when he picks him up. Drabble Series!
Warnings: Slash, AU, ~1k word count drabbles, fighting (possible blood mention)
Pairings: TMR/HP (Tom Marvolo Riddle / Harry Potter), EVENTUALLY: [[past LE/JP (Lily Evans / James Potter), past LE/SS (Lily Evans / Severus Snape), -maybe- SB/RL (Sirius Black / Remus Lupin)]]
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, obviously. Characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
Note: Oh Luna... How can anyone ever understand your advice? xD.
Tom made it down the stairs well enough—with Harry's assistance—and eventually the two reached another room. However, instead of an actual cavern, it was more like an air pocket. The only land other than that that they stood on was far across the room, and even then it was only a small ledge. The rest? Water.
"Hello," said someone across the lake. Harry squinted to see the shape of the person hidden in the shadows, and was even more surprised when said figure stepped out into the light.
It was a woman—or, well, girl, Tom supposed. She was sixteen maximum, with blonde flowing hair that was tied in the back as a ponytail as well as familiar blue eyes. In fact, she looked like a carbon copy of the illusion they had seen earlier, only younger of course.
"Are you two looking for the oracle of the cave?" she asked politely, but a dazed smile on her face made Tom doubt that she was even paying attention.
Instead of replying to the girl, the Magus glanced at his companion first. The only sign that the warrior had seen was a slight nod of the head, so Tom decided that the teen across the lake was real.
"We are," he replied cautiously.
The girl giggled. "Well, look no further I suppose. Not that you can—well, one of you can, maybe, but that wouldn't be wise. Though, all that's left down there are the nargles, who do surprisingly well in deep water. Who knew?"
"Who are you?" blurted out Harry.
She blinked. "Why, I'm Luna Lovegood of course! Who did you expect, the king of the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks?"
Harry and Tom shared a look. "…No?" said the former tentatively.
Luna laughed. "Good, because he's much too important to be here with little old me. Your journey might interest him though."
Tom was getting impatient. He decided to cut straight to the chase, too tired of oddities and thinking about them. "How are you the oracle?" he barked, "She's supposed to be a grown woman. How can we trust you, when there was an illusion just above?"
"Why, that's not my problem is it?" replied Luna, not sounding offended at all. She spoke in a very matter-of-fact way, actually, but the calm smile on her face was slightly unnerving regardless. "I'm the oracle, so I know that you're who you say, but you're not an oracle, so you can't be sure who I am. That's just how it is, you know. Now, if you were an oracle, you wouldn't have even come here to see me, so I suppose you're stuck, aren't you?"
Harry sighed. "So let's say you're the oracle—"
"Hypothetically," reminded Luna.
"Hypothetically," assured Harry. "Hypothetically, if you're the oracle, what would you say to us? After all, as the oracle you know the quest that Tom's on, and where to start him off, right? So you wouldn't even have to ask why we're here."
"Right!" praised Luna with a big smile. "But the news I must bear to you isn't very good, so I must still ask if you want to hear it."
"Of course we would," scowled Tom. "Why else would we be here?"
"To hear good news, of course," she said, "that's what most people come for. But not everyone gets what they want; sad but true…"
Harry coughed to get her back on the right track.
"Well," began Luna, "Hypothetically speaking, since I'm still hypothetically the oracle, I'd tell you that your quest is far more dangerous than the previous century's. The future is quite blurry, you know… and I'm afraid it can get quite bad. Now, since all questionable oracles are supposed to do this, I must also ask once again if you want to hear this, because it can easily turn quite nasty."
"Yes, yes, get on with it!" snapped Tom.
"Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I was hoping you'd say that. Not, mind you, the fact that I knew for certain—since we're only assuming I'm the oracle—"
"The danger?" pointedly asked Harry.
Luna grew quiet before speaking again. "There are hunters," she whispered. "They seek to stop you. Both of you, but they have yet to know that part. You will be thrown to violent obstacles, and there are some that are… questionable in outcome. It all depends, you know, on the actions you take beforehand."
"Stop us, or take the Deathly Hollows for themselves?" inquired Tom.
"Both," replied Luna. "They wish to obtain the ultimate power—and they can, depending on your actions specifically, Tom. Continue on as you are, forever static with a tight hold to your ideals, and they will win. But… if you change—"
"I can't do anything unless I get my magic back," snapped the Magus. "Whether my mindset changes or not means nothing if I cannot fight against those so called hunters."
"Oh, yes… on the subject of your magic—please excuse me, the wrackspurts are being quite playful—"
"How will he get it back? The Sorcerer's Stone is quite thorough," interrupted Harry before she could get off topic.
Luna, for all of her dreamy expressions, took on a certain type of focus that the warrior could not identify. Her lips twitched, as if confused between a frown or a grin, and she finally decided on the former. "Well," she began hesitantly, "that depends on the both of you… and the paths you decide to take."
"Explain," demanded Tom.
"But first, are you sure you—"
"Yes!"
"Alright then. At the most general level, getting your magic back is easy. All you have to do is bond with a Fighter. However, if you simply do so with just anyone, then your fate appears grim. I cannot say who you should bind with, only that he will be your ideal—"
"So a male," the Magus interrupted, wanting to get all the clues he could.
"Yes. But remember, if it is simply anyone that you find in your convenience, there is a high chance that it is not the right one. If you manage to form a bond with the right Fighter, then your chances for survival—and also completing the quest successfully—are marginally higher."
"Not significantly?" asked Harry.
Luna smiled sadly. "No. I'm afraid not. The bond is only a small part—important, yes, but small in the grand scheme of things."
"And?" Tom asked. "After I get my magic back? After I bond with the right person? What after?"
"Then your fate lies in your hands," she said simply. "That… and… well…"
A significant look was given to Harry, and the warrior was suddenly filled with a feeling of dread. "Um?" he murmured tentatively.
"You too take part," she whispered. "Much must be revealed, and I'm sorry for that. I might not be the cause or able to do anything, but do know that I am sorry for the life that you must abandon. You hold your friend's key to survival, but he also holds yours. Whether you die or live is in the sole hands of yours combined, and no other's. If the right path is chosen, then the aftermath is sure. Many will—or could—seek you, some to claim and some to challenge. However, you know your strength better than anyone else, never forget that. If you believe you are weak then you are, and if you believe you are strong then that is all you can be."
Tom furrowed his eyebrows as he saw his companion's expression, one of anxiety and indecision.
"Everything?" Harry asked nervously.
"Everything," she agreed. "But if your trials pass, and all is done as it was said, then happiness awaits you and Mr. Riddle. Do not forget that, either. You will assist him in his search, and he will in turn help you."
"And if things don't turn out that way?" Tom asked. "If one misstep is made, will it all go to hell?"
Luna cocked her head to the side, deep in thought. Her expression, however, gave away nothing. "I don't know," she answered in her usual daze. "The future is the future—I cannot predict everything. But I don't think you'll be alone, either. We'll certainly be seeing each other again. Anyways, it's time for you two to leave. Take the troll's route, will you? Nothing should harm you there."
Both Harry and Tom were surprised at the abrupt dismissal. "Ah, but—" the former tried to say, but Luna waved it away.
"The nargles are getting impatient. I've been quite distracted since your arrival, and they're always vying for my attention. We'll talk later, though, so off you must go!"
The travelers turned to leave, but were stopped by Luna's sudden call. "Remember, Sleeping Beauty was awoken with a kiss, Snow White was saved by her prince, and Cinderella danced hand and hand with love's true gift! However, in your story, once the princess is saved, she will turn into a prince, and both must fight the dragon and thorns once more to possess the Fairest One of Them All."
Once outside, both Tom and Harry shared another look of utter exhaustion and disbelief.
"Animals and oracles," Tom muttered. "I don't understand any of them. Let's hope not to meet the latter again."
Harry shrugged. "She might've been a bit… strange, but I think she was nice enough."
The warrior received a deadpan look for all of his troubles. "I'm sick of caves," was all Tom said.
Harry simply hoped that Luna was wrong about something. He had bad feelings coming from his gut instinct, and that was never good.
Word Count: 1610
Word Prompt: Advice