Chapter 9

Yule Surprise

Harry felt sympathetic for Ron. Leading up to the Yule Ball, he could not find a date and every time he tried to ask a girl, Ron would only get flustered and sputtered on nonsense before being laughed at. He even had a disastrous attempt at asking Hermione out, starting with "Hermione, you're a girl right?" Needless to say, it did not end well with magicked birds chasing Ron away, and a very angry Hermione stomping back the other way. In the end, to Harry's relief, Ron found a date with Padma Patil. When he told Harry about it in the common room, he asked, "You're going with that Riddle bloke right?"

"Yes Ron, I'm going with my boyfriend," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "You know he has a name, right?"

"Not until I talk with him, "Ron said, puffing up his chest. "It's what best mates do, right? Intimidate your friends' boyfriends. Charlie told me so."

Harry just raised an eyebrow and sighed, shaking his head slightly. "I don't know," he said. "To be honest I'm still a bit scared because of what Professor McGonagall told me."

"What'd she tell you?" Ron asked.

"That even though Hogwarts is okay with it, the other schools might not be," Harry said honestly. "Tom and I know the… dangers of being who we are, and I know we're damn lucky that nothing has happened yet, but still the thought that someone might hurt me, or worse hurt Tom, it honestly scares me."

"I don't get it," Ron said, frowning. "I mean like, you and Tom you're dating, right? Why should people give you a hard time over that?"

Harry frowned, his thoughts going to the Dursleys. "Because we're different," he said bitterly."

"I don't see it," Ron shrugged, "seems to me that they're just idiots." Harry snorted and smiled at that.

"That's exactly right Ron," he said, "They're idiots!"

"Yeah," Ron grinned. "So, you down for some wizards' chess?"

When Christmas morning came, Harry woke up to a pile of presents at the end of his bed. It was a lovely day, with snow lightly falling outside Hogwarts. Because of the Yule Ball, more students than usual decided to stay at Hogwarts, which Harry found a bit nerve-wracking considering he and Tom would have to dance in front of all of them. But they have been practicing, an hour every day in their study in the Chamber of Secrets. Ever since they burnt down Slytherin's portrait, Tom declared the room and chamber theirs, and so the study became their study, their own personal haven against the world.

But back to the presents.

Harry did not even bother to look at the Dursley's present, which was an all-time low with just a single tissue, and instead moved on to the others. Hermione had given Harry a book called Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland; Ron, a bulging bag of Dungbombs that Harry was too polite to tell him that he didn't really like pranks with those anymore; Sirius a handy penknife with attachments to unlock any lock and undo any knot, along with a long heartfelt letter of congratulations for the First Task and condolences on his broomstick with a reminder that, even though the Firebolt is gone, Harry will always have Sirius; Hagrid gave him a vast box of sweets including all Harry's favorites, and Draco gave him a lovely green scarf that matched his eyes beautifully with the other Slytherins chipping in to give him a new pair of black dragonhide boots. Mrs. Weasley, as usual, gave Harry her usual package, including a new sweater (green, with a picture of a dragon on it—Harry supposed Charlie Weasley, who worked with the dragons, told her about the Horntail), and a large quantity of homemade mince pies. There was one more gift with only a letter and a tag that read "To my darling." Harry knew immediately that it was obviously from Tom.

He was a good boyfriend and read the letter first.

My Darling,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I have thought long on what I should give you today. What to give to my sweet darling? My lovely Harry who is so good for me? I've already gifted you a necklace, which inspires pride to swell within me every time I see it hug your neck. What else will fit you? What else would show just how much I care for you and listen to you? Then it hit me, like a lightning bolt of inspiration. I've had to pull a few strings and ask the other Slytherins in our year for favors, but still, I was able to have it made, and now it is yours, my Darling. Though you may not wear it openly, I hope that it can be a symbol of how much I adore you.

Love,

Tom Riddle

Love… Tom wrote love. Harry couldn't help but tear up a little at that. It might be quick, yes, they have only been dating for about a month or so, and have only known each other since the beginning of November, but still, everything about their relationship was far from ordinary and yet so right. Tom wrote love, was that the feeling Harry was feeling for Tom? Was that the feeling Tom was feeling for Harry? He couldn't be sure, all he knew was that Tom was the closest to himself, closest to seeing Harry without his masks. It was a terrifying thought, absolutely so, yet it wasn't dreadful the more Harry thought about it. It was exciting to have someone so close to his real self, someone, where he can just be himself with none of his masks, it was a total relief. Like knowing in the back of his mind no matter what happens, Tom would always be there to take care of him. That thought made Harry cry softly, smiling at the wrapped present as he finally opened it.

Harry couldn't stop himself from gasping. It was a mask. A beautiful half-mask that only covered his eyes. It was a pure emerald with small black stone lining the sides. It had a simple design, like one of the masquerade masks sold in party stores, however, Harry knew just by the look of it, that the mask was anything but ordinary. For one, Harry could wear it without his glasses and see perfectly. He tried it out and smiled when he saw that the eye holes, either through magic or clever lens, perfected his vision like he was wearing his glasses normally. Secondly, it seemed to perfectly fit his face without any bands or hooks, molding to his impressions and resting comfortably. He could feel almost a surge of power and smirked to himself, imagining that somehow Tom did some Parsel-Magic on it for an extra effect. He'll have to ask him about it later.

But for now, Harry decided to hide his beautiful mask away, putting it in the bottom of his chest and protecting it with every protection spell he knew, cast in parseltongue for extra power, of course.

Harry and Ron met up with Hermione in the common room, and they went down to breakfast together. They spent most of the morning in Gryffindor Tower, where everyone was enjoying their presents, then returned to the Great Hall for a magnificent lunch. Tom decided to join with Harry after lunch, walking with the three Gryffindors out onto the grounds in the afternoon. Ron glanced at Tom every now and again, doing his best to stand taller and more impressive looking than Tom, which was a hard task, and said, "So… Riddle."

Tom glanced at Ron, giving him a look that was almost like he could read Ron's entire existence in a second, and gave a small smirk. "Yes, Weasley? That is my name."

"You are… Harry's boyfriend," Ron started.

"Indeed."

"You are… nice to my friend," Ron said.

"Yes, you are quite the interrogator, aren't you?" Tom chuckled.

"Tom be nice," Harry whispered. His hand was in Tom's and he couldn't help but smile. He could only feel one mask on right now, Tom's mask, and he was just happy to be with his boyfriend and two best friends.

Ron flustered and pouted, "What is that supposed to mean?" he muttered. "I just wanted to know what kind of person you are, that's what you're supposed to do, right Hermione?" He looked at Hermione for help, but she just shook her head.

"Fine, then ask away," Tom smiled easily.

"Where are you from? Why did you enter Hogwarts this year? Why are you a slimy Slytherin? How—"

"RON!" Harry yelled, "Please," he said stressing the word, "One at a time."

Tom laughed and shook his head, "Harry, it is no problem. I am more than aware of my strange predicament regarding Hogwarts. If you must know, Weasley, I am just starting Hogwarts in my fourth year because of my guardians' deaths. My mother and my uncle to be more specific. Until then, I was homeschooled. As for why I do not know, it was their decision. They have died in the end of September and the beginning of October, which was why I started just after Halloween, it took that long to get papers in order. As for why I am in Slytherin, well it is just a sort of family tradition, my uncle talked at length on how he and his father before him were Slytherins. Of course, they did not let my mother go to Hogwarts."

"Why not?" Ron asked.

"They hated Dumbledore for some reason," Tom hummed. "I'm sorry, it's still hard to talk about them," he frowned and looked around the snowy landscape in front of them. "That's everything about my past that I would rather talk about, I'm sorry."

"Oh… uh it's no problem," Ron muttered. "Sorry, mate." Tom just shrugged. "But uh… that was you, right? Who taught Harry that freaky magic in the first task?"

"If you mean the vines that trapped the dragon? I've merely given him the method, the display of magic was all my darling's," Tom hummed. "And I am happy that he's done so! Personally, I did not want to see him use it due to the strain that it caused to his magic, but we both had a feeling he would need to know it as a background strategy incase the broomstick did not come."

"Oh right," Ron frowned, he glanced at Harry, "Uh… sorry for bringing that up."

"It doesn't matter, Sirius told me that even though the broomstick is gone, I'll always have him, and that's more important," Harry said.

"Right you are, Harry," Tom nodded in agreement.

Ron looked between the two of them and, as though he made up his mind, gave Tom a smirk, "I think I've figured you out Riddle, you're all right. For a Slytherin that is."

"I am so happy to meet your approval," Tom drawled.

Harry and the Weasleys started a snowball fight, with just Hermione and Tom watching. Tom noticed odd looks from the youngest female Weasley, whose name he could possibly not even bother remembering. At five, Hermione left to get ready for the ball, and soon after Tom too took his leave to prepare himself.

He was able to get a set of dress robes for the ball through various connections with several of the Slytherin children. Which is to say, he convinced several students to lend him the needed money to get himself a suit that perfectly fits his taste.

The dress robes were black, naturally, and quite form-fitting, tailored to end directly on top of his wrist and ankles. His shirt underneath was a deep emerald, with a black tie to make the color of his shirt more pronounced, as well as a simple watch to accessorize. It took Tom only an hour to get his dress robes together, he spent the rest of the time making sure that everything was in place. He would hate to make less than the optimal impression. When he was satisfied with how he looked, he went into the main common room where the others were. "Needless to say," he began talking aloud, assuming that the others would simply stop talking and look at him, "I will be disappointed if anyone here has any negative comments towards Harry Potter. It is a true shame that he is not where he belongs, here, however, I will not allow any of you to use that to spread any rumors or lies about him. I have seen a few here with a button claiming that 'Potter Stinks.' Rest assured that you will be dealt with." He paused and frowned as he looked around. Only about three-quarters of the room were listening in. Fine, more people to punish. I need a stress reliever. He quickly memorized the faces of those who did not listen and walked to meet up with Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, and Blaise Zabini.

Draco was staring at him cautiously, "What are you planning?" he demanded.

"Nothing," Tom hummed. "However if you want to watch and make sure that I am a good boy while I punish those who would dare to hurt my darling, you are more than welcomed to."

"If Harry hears about this—"

"He will not, not unless he asks me directly, to which I will not lie," Tom said. "That is what friends and lovers do, Malfoy. They do not lie. Especially when it is about their own feelings."

Draco just glared at him some more before shaking his head. "I'll be watching you," he muttered before stepping away for last-minute adjustments with his own suit.

"That poor boy, he really needs to get a boyfriend," Tom said, shaking his head lightly. Blaise and Theo just chuckled, and Tom smirked at them. "Well, I believe I better go and meet up with Harry. Have a pleasant evening."

The entrance hall was packed with students when Tom arrived, however, they seemed to part as he immediately made a straight line towards Harry, who was standing around awkwardly. He looked good in his dress robes, a simple black and white combination, however, Tom's poor boy stood too hesitantly in them, as though the clothes were wearing him instead of the other way around. As Tom got closer, he smirked when he saw the faint glint of his necklace. "Hello darling," he purred as soon as he was in front of Harry.

"H-Hi," Harry blushed. Tom smiled at that and took Harry's hands, "Come here, let's fix you up," he muttered as Professor McGonagall called for the champions to go to her. They all stood to one side of the doors to let the others inside. Tom pulled Harry into a corner and took out his wand, muttering under his breath. Wrinkles disappeared, the fabric of Harry's dress robe. He pulled Harry's tie off, tossing it over his shoulder, and tapped around Harry's dress robes to shorten the length around the neck, letting it smooth out near the bottom and give an unobscured view of his necklace. Tom hummed before nodding and, with another wave, a proud Slytherin tie in green and silver wrapped itself around Harry's neck, tying its knot perfectly and sitting comfortably on his dress shirt. Tom readjusted his dress robes and smiled at his boyfriend. "I'm sorry darling, but I don't know any spells for hair."

"That's fine, uh thank you," Harry muttered, kissing Tom's cheek. They heard a noise near them and Harry looked up to see Fleur Delacour giving the two a dirty look and muttering something in French. His heart sank immediately, and he could feel himself regressing within himself. "Tom," he whispered.

"You have my necklace Harry, so wear my mask," Tom whispered. Harry took a breath and nodded.

I'm a shapeshifter at Poe's Masquerade. Hiding both face and mind, all free for you to draw. I'm a shapeshifter, what else should I be? Please don't take off my mask. My place to hide.

His face became neutral for a moment before giving Tom a small, short smile. "I'm better," he muttered and finally took the time to look around. Fleur Delacour was with Roger Davis and stationed themselves nearest to the door. Cedric and Cho were close to Harry and Tom, Cedric catching Harry's eye and giving him a small smile before going back to whatever he was talking about with Cho. Harry looked to see who Krum brought. His jaw dropped.

It was Hermione.

But she didn't look like Hermione at all. She had done something with her hair; it was no longer bushy but sleek and shiny and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow—or maybe it was merely the absence of the twenty or so books she usually had slung over her back. She was smiling rather nervously.

"Hi Harry!" she said. "Hello, Tom!"

"Miss Granger, you look absolutely divine," Tom said smoothly, and he wasn't the only one who noticed. Harry saw, with some satisfaction, that when Draco Malfoy walked with Pansy Parkinson on his arms, she just stared at Hermione gobsmacked. Ron, who came with one of the Patil twins, did not even look at Hermione, however.

Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and to follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started walking up toward a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting.

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 sitting about a dozen people.

Harry focused on just walking straight ahead, glancing down every now and again to make sure he doesn't trip. "Relax darling," Tom murmured, "you are walking too stiffly." They approached the table with the five judges and Tom made a noise, "It seems that Mr. Crouch was replaced by a Weasley, I think."

Harry looked up to see what he was talking about and saw that Mr. Crouch wasn't there, instead Percy Weasley sat in his seat, wearing brand-new navy blue robes. Percy drew out the empty chair beside him and stared pointedly at Harry. "He wants us to sit with him, should we?"

"I rather we sit next to Krum, there is something I wish to speak with him," Tom muttered, but as both luck and misfortune would have it, it worked out so that Harry sat next to Percy, with Tom next to him obviously, and Krum next to Tom with Hermione on his other side. "I've been promoted!" Percy said smugly. "I'm now Mr. Crouch's personal assistant, and I'm here representing him."

"Oh… that's nice," Harry muttered. He thought to ask Percy why Mr. Crouch wasn't here but thought better of it. Instead, he leaned towards Tom and glanced at Percy before whispering out a language only he and Tom understood. "What is it you want to speak to Krum about?"

"Durmstrang's approach to magic, it might help you with the second and third tasks," Tom replied. He glanced around at the table and saw Professor Dumbledore giving the two an odd look. He frowned. "My darling, there shouldn't be a possibility, but the old man is known for his tricks, but I think he can understand what we are saying, even if he can hear us over all the noise at all."

Harry's eyes widened. He stared at Dumbledore as well, panicking momentarily, before pushing it back. There was no way he could understand Parseltongue, no way at all. They were just being silly. "Still," he whispered, "just in case, maybe we should stick to English, and not talk about such stuff around people."

"Right you are Harry," Tom smiled and kissed Harry's cheek. Fleur made a disgusted noise once more, and Harry could feel more eyes glaring at him at that moment. He looked around the table and frowned when he saw both Karkaroff and Madame Maxime giving the two of them pointed glares, and even Mr. Bagman glanced at him, looking uncomfortable. "Uh, Dumbledore," Mr. Bagman said awkwardly. "Are you aware of Harry and his… friend as a date?"

Dumbledore looked puzzled at the question and glanced at the two of them. "I'm afraid that I am not always aware of the latest rumors and gossip in Hogwarts," he began, "however I have heard, and seen, that both Mr. Potter and Mr. Riddle are in a relationship—isn't that right, boys?"

Harry's face reddened while Tom answered, "You are correct, Professor. However, if we were trying to keep it a secret, I think we have failed. Especially with how often we just walk around the castle holding hands."

"Ah… yes, of course… yes," Bagman muttered. "I think we should, uh, start dinner then…"

The table all looked at Dumbledore who simply picked up a menu from his empty place and examined it carefully for a moment. Then he said very clearly to the plate, "Pork chops!"

And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their orders with their plates too, Harry all too glad that the conversations seemed to be leaning away from his and Tom's relationship.

However, it did not last long enough as Madame Maxime continued to glance angrily at both Tom and Harry, Tom in a deep conversation with Krum as Harry and Hermione talk before the two turns back to their partners. Halfway through dinner she slammed her hand against the table and yelled out in rapid French, "C'est une insulte! Pour me demander et Fleur de dîner avec deux homosexuels!? C'est une insulte à notre être même— Dumbledore you cannot expect me to allow this!"

"Madame Maxime, what is the matter?" Dumbledore asked, frowning. "Is the food not to your liking?" He had a hard look on his face, as though he knew exactly what she was angry about.

"This!" Madame Maxime said in a hushed tone, "That boy and his—his friend!"

"Now, now Madame, I am sure we are all… a little put off by Harry's choice of partner," Mr. Bagman said.

"Partner!? Dumbledore this is an insult!"

"No, I have to say it is not, I am so terribly sorry my dear Maxime, but here at Hogwarts we have a tolerance policy that accepts everyone as a student," Dumbledore said, keeping a friendly smile though his voice did not share any of the friendliness. "It has been here since Headmaster Dippet sat in this chair—and I will hardly even begin to think about revoking it. If you have a problem with who Harry Potter has chosen as his partner, I rather you have it be a problem with Mr. Riddle's character! Not their genders." He looked at the two boys and surprised Tom by smiling supportively at them.

"We will talk about this later," Madam Maxime threatened and snapped her fingers to refill the glass in front of her with a pink drink before downing it and switching back to rapid French with Fleur Delacour.

Harry was saved from further embarrassment as dinner was soon over and Dumbledore stood up, asking the students to do so as well. 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.

The Weird Sisters now trooped up onto the stage to wildly enthusiastic applause; they were all extremely hairy and dressed in black robes that were artfully ripped and torn. They picked up their instruments Harry and Tom followed the other champions onto the dance floor.

Tom's face soured as the Weird Sisters started a slow, mournful tune. "What the hell is this?" he muttered.

"Um, music?" Harry guessed, never once heard a song by the Weird Sisters.

"No Harry, music has a rhythm, a beautiful flow from one note to the next. This, darling, is noise which we are forced to dance to," he said as he led Harry in dancing, both slowly revolving in the spot. "Why, one thing I remember actually liking back from where I am from is Celestina Warbeck's music. She was new, at the time, but it had something I've enjoyed. This, however," Tom waved a dismissive hand towards the Weird Sisters, "utter garbage."

Harry couldn't help but snicker and laugh at Tom's disdain. "You sounded so human for a second there," he grinned, "I forgot that you were my boyfriend."

"Harry! I take offense to that," Tom said, though he was grinning. "I'll have you know that I can perform a full range of emotions when I want to."

"Oh really? So you're not a robot who only dispenses kisses and spells?" Harry grinned.

Tom frowned, "What is a robot, darling? It sounds absolutely dreadful. But no, I am no robot," he closed their distance and kissed Harry fully as they danced, "I'm the boy who captured Harry Potter's heart," he whispered.

"Are you sure it's not me who captured yours?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. Tom gave a soft snicker and shook his head.

Around them, others joined the dancing floor so that the champions were no longer the center of attention. Neville and Ginny were together, and Dumbledore was waltzing with Madame Maxime, who seemed to have completely forgotten about her outburst as her cheeks were a jolly red. Mad-Eye Moody was doing an extremely ungainly two-step with Professor Sinistra, who was nervously avoiding his wooden leg.

The song stopped with a final quavering note from the bagpipe and the two boys shared a look as a new, faster song started. "Shall we walk?" Tom said.

"Please," Harry begged and the two left the dancing floor. The couple barely made it to the entrance hall when Harry heard his name being called. He turned around to see Cedric Diggory running up to him.

"Harry—Harry," he panted. "Um, I just wanted to say some things," he said when he finally caught up."

"Yeah?"

"Well uhh… I just wanted to say uh, good on you, you know, for um bringing your boyfriend as—as your date," Cedric began, stumbling over his words and for the first time, looking extremely embarrassed as his cheeks and ears turned red. He glanced back and Harry saw Cho Chang waiting for him in the doorway. "Uh I just wanted you to know uh, that I support you—we support you, Cho and I, and uh I wanted to pay you back, for help with the dragons."

"Oh, um thank you, Cedric," Harry said, glancing at Tom. Cedric glanced at him too, as if unsure if he should say the following with Tom around. Sensing his indecision, Tom said, "Whatever you have to say to Harry, he will repeat back to me as we work it out together so you might as well just say it now and save my darling the oxygen."

"Oh, right. Does your egg wail when you open it?" Cedric asked.

"Yeah," Harry said.

"Well… take a bath, okay?"

"What?"

"Take a bath and bring your egg with you, and—er—just mull things over in the hot water. It'll help you think—tell you what, use the prefect's bathroom. Fourth door to the left of that statue of Boris the Bewildered on the fifth floor. Password's 'pine fresh.' Gotta go—and uh I support you in your relationship."

Cedric ran back to Cho and the two went back into the Great Hall. Harry looked at Tom and frowned, "That was uhh…"

"A Hufflepuff being a Hufflepuff," Tom drawled, "Although his heart and brains are in the right place. So my darling, shall we take that bath he mentioned now?"

"No, no there's something else I want to do tonight," Harry blushed. "Tom, can you come with me to the seventh floor? I want to show you my paintings." He looked extremely nervous, his heart beating frantically at the thought of someone other than Draco to see his masks, all of his masks. But it needed to be done. Harry wanted to do it and now seemed like the perfect time.

"I'm honored," Tom said, giving Harry a smile as he hugged the boy dearly. "Please my love, lead the way."

Ron was angry. He was at the ball with a date he didn't want to be with who has left him long ago to dance while he sulked, glaring at Hermione as she danced with Viktor Krum of all people! "Stupid Hermione, fraternizing with the enemy," he muttered to himself.

"Aww, what's the matter, Weasley? Realized you're poorer than a broken rat?" a smug voice said in front of him. Ron looked up and his glare moved from Hermione and Krum to Draco Malfoy who was now without his date, Parkinson.

"Shut up Malfoy," he muttered.

"Aw what the matter? Found out nobody loves a poor boy?" Malfoy snickered.

"Get away you ferret breath," Ron said angrily, "And don't talk to me about nobody wanting who, I see that your date left you too!"

"I left her, honestly Parkinson is a horrible dancer," Malfoy said dismissively. "Do not get the idea that we are in any way alike."

"Yeah, like I'd want to be a ferret faced prat like you," Ron said, getting to his feet, smirking at how he towered over Malfoy slightly. "And I bet Parkinson left you because you just complained about Harry."

"Why you—"

"'Oh that stupid perfect Potter, look at him and his perfect boyfriend,'" Ron said, talking in a high falsetto to imitate Malfoy.

Malfoy sneered at Ron. "Yeah well, at least I'm not constantly looking for people's approval. Look at you! Glaring at Granger because she wouldn't go with you to the dance? You're nothing but a crying little boy."

"Says the person too scared to ask his friend to a dance and pouts because she chooses someone else," Malfoy smirked. Ron's temper rose. He took a step closer to Malfoy, "You snobby git!"

"You mannerless hillbilly!"

"You foppish fairy!"

"You brutish ape!"

"GIT!"

With each insult they took a step closer to each other, tempers flaring and emotions running high. Ron and Draco glared at each other for a moment before, without either one realizing it, they smashed their mouths together, attacking each other's lips as they continued to mutter insult after insult. "You idiotic maroon." "You spoiled jackass." On and on they kissed and insulted each other, not fully aware of what they were doing or how people around them politely stepped away.

Hermione too saw this and frowned, stepping away from Krum momentarily to find Ginny, who was by a table to get a refreshment. "Ginny, about Ron—"

"Huh? Oh yeah—um Hermione, who's Harry's boyfriend?" Ginny asked, not even looking at Ron and Draco Malfoy, who both have somehow stopped sucking each other's faces to glare at each other before separating, Draco stopping out of the hall entirely, Ron following afterward.

Hermione frowned but said, "You mean Tom? What about him?"

Ginny continued to stare out, her skin paling slightly, "Tom… Hermione, what was his last name? His full name."

"Tom Riddle, but I don't see—" Ginny ran off. "Ginny!" Hermione chased after her, calling for Ginny as the young girl sped out of the entrance hall and up the stairs to get into the nearest girl's bathroom on the first floor. Hermione was close on her tail, running in to see Ginny hunched over a sink with running water, openly crying and hyperventilating.

Hermione was at her side in an instant, holding Ginny as he failed to control her breathing. "It's okay Ginny, it's alright, what's the matter? Why did you run away?"

"Riddle—Riddle, Tom Riddle… you said that his name is Tom Riddle," Ginny muttered.

"Yes, what about him? Is something wrong?" Hermione asked. She helped Ginny wash her face and sit down on a closed toilet. "It's alright Ginny, tell me what's the matter? Is Harry okay? Is he or Tom in danger or something?"

Ginny took several breaths to calm herself down enough that she could speak. Still sounding frantic, she looked up at Hermione, pleadingly, "You have to get Harry away from him. He must be under some spell or something!"

"What? Why?"

"Hermione, he's You-Know-Who!" Ginny said, "Tom Riddle is the Dark Lord!"

A/N: Totally meant to have this up on Christmas but uhh this is close enough right?