Part2

Harry was angry at himself, he was literally fuming, how can he fall for it! He had known, known how manipulative and sly Riddle could be, he had decided that he will not fall for it and yet he had done the same thing again not long after falling for first prank. So lost in his anger, Harry didn't saw and ran into someone.

"I am sorry" Harry said distractedly not looking at him. "It's alright, I understand you must be in a hurry. "
"Huh?"

"You are going to hospital wing right? I saw you with Edward and Katnip, I guess you guys are friends,They are awake right now but nurse will not let anyone meet after one hour, hurry up. "

Anger forgotten Harry made his way at a quick pace to hospital wing.

Edward and Katnip were in hospital wing, what happened?

When Harry reached hospital wing, Edward was lying down, his eyes closed white bandages were visible below his shirt, on another bed there was a screen restricting his view.

He cleared his throat, Edward opened his eyes "Harry."

"Hi, what happened? "Harry asked unsure how to act,

"Just an accident during charms. A student lost his concentration and Katnip and I were unlucky. "

"You are hiding something."

"What, no! " When Harry gave unimpressed glare he murmured.

"Student was Riddle."

Harry froze, "Riddle made a mistake. "

The previously forgotten fury came back with a roar, it wasn't an accident, it was planned very carefully planned to have both Edward and Katnip punished, simultaneoysly in a single act, in public, in front of teacher, yet not being held accountable it was a mockery. Riddle's way of showing him his powers, power to do whatever he will and get away with it.

"He knew we helped you frame him".

" It's my fault–"

"No it's not, we Knew what we were doing, we just didn't expected to get caught."

He looked to the screen "She is fine just sleeping and so am I. "

His face must have shown what he was thinking because Edward said.

"It wasn't that serious, we will be out from here in few hours and we are allowed to go to Hogmeads tomorrow as well, you know Madam Else wouldn't allow us, if we weren't."

Harry nodded his head, still simmering with anger inside he smiled "Take care. "

"Just don't do anything rash." .

.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you?"

Harry almost screamed struggling to keep his anger in control.

"Had Memory Loss?" Tom smirked, not turning from his book, he was reading.

Harry snatched the book from the table and hurled it at the Wall. He knew he was acting childishly but right now he really needed to take his anger out on something lest he do something he won't regret.

"Why are you so surprised? you knew what you were doing and so did they, you did what you wanted, I did what I wanted. "

"You were the one who started it—"

"—Such things make you sound like a pathetic Gryffindor, doesn't suit a Slytherin so don't go around talking nonsense like who started it and fair and not fair, I can't stand it."

"They were not a part of this, you wanted to take revenge from me, you know it, why did you drag them into it?"

"Of course they are not of importance here, but they helped in plotting against me, however insignificant and petty, I couldn't let them off the hook, would give bad example" he replied not a bit worried about his throwing the book, in fact he looked even amused. "As for having revenge from you there are no hard feelings against you in my heart that is the reason I left them off so easily, it was just on principle. you really didn't think it was all I would do to anyone else, did you?"

"Want me to send you thank you card?"

"I don't waste my time on such sentiments"

"Let me make one thing clear here, if you ever did such a thing again, however small or harmless, you will have problems, it's a promise" the air around them thinned as magic hummed, the raw magic around them was almost tangible ready to strike.

"We'll see" he stood up "it's the first time you have sought me out, I am pleased, you are making progress. Good." Harry barely stopped himself by digging his nails into his palms. "You wanted to 'start anew' but then things weren't equal until then but I am willing to let past remain in past unless you have different opinion?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Now I have two points to settle with you, and you call it even?" Harry replied "who taught you mathematics?"

"A pathetic excuse for a human, I wanted to do something about him but didn't have time to waste but perhaps later"

"Careful your 'real you' is showing"

"No one to see, your little spies are lying in hospital wing" he summoned his book; it was fine and undamaged and put it on the table in front of him, a mockery. "This is as much as you will get, I of course am looking forward to your negative answer, hurry and say no, so that we can officially start playing."

And Harry knew, he will not get any better deal, he got any deal at all is a miracle in all but it still left a bitter taste in his mouth but as much as this hurt his pride he really couldn't afford to make things serious between them, it won't end well and not just for him.

But it still didn't mean he will lie down on his belly and roll over.
"My earlier promise still stands."

"Pity, I was looking forward to your no and some entertainment. Anyway now that we are almost friends, would you share your secrets like buddies do?"

Harry left the room without replying, knowing full well that he just stepped out of the newly build boundaries.

Riddle need to know that just because he agreed to play nice doesn't mean he will follow his every order like his lackeys do.

He wasn't one.

Unknown to him, Harry just passed a test.
. . .

"Where are you going ?" Harry was really getting tired of this.

"To die, your problem ?"

"Someone is grumpy" Harry hated it when Black try to act innocent "be nice, you are meeean" or when childish.

"Whats your problem Black, dont you have something better to do?" Harry stopped moving and looked at him unimpressed.

"Why would I look for anything better to do, when I am already doing something important?"

"Yeah? And that is ?"Harry didn't waited for the answer but again it wasn't clue enough as he followed.

Why were Slythrines of This time so thick? Slythrines of his time wouldn't have looked back if he was dying after he implied that he didn't care for their response, disrespect to their pureblood supermacy or something, weren't they supposed to act same?

"Creating a bond with you." Harry actually had to stop and think back to make sense of what he said.

"Bond?"

"Yeah, you are a Slythrine and seventh year, i will not get a chance to make-"

"-connections" Harry cut in "You don't have to sugarcoat what you are doing, I understand" he gestured towards his tie "slythrine remember? What I want to know is why, why do you feel the need to have bond with me"

Even after a month of getting used to he still feel insulted whenever anyone call him slythrine, he actually came close to snapping at a professor, when he awarded points to slythrine for him, but as nature would have it he had started to understand the mindset of some.

Black sighed in relief "thank merlin, you understand something! It would have been really annoying to try and talk to you like a bloody Gryfindor. Honestly the way you behave sometimes, I could have sworned you were a Gryfindor. " Harry took pride in it before realizing that even if Black can recognize it then he was doing really bad.

Harry shrugged "I appreciate your efforts but I need to go" He increased his speed, it was tempting to take a shortcut but he didn't dare with black so close behind him.

"Woah, wait! What's with you man? Where do you keep disappearing of to?" he ran to come stand in front of him.

Speak of being childish

"You are really difficult to find! Hey-" Harry had already overcome the Black-obstacle and was making his way "I am trying man, why can't you see?"

"Oh, I see alright and last time I saw you try something and one of you 'being nice' didn't end up good for me, so call me crazy but I am keeping my distance. Now move!"

"What? you mean Nott? He is not one of us, just a pawn used when needed, otherwise" he didn't even finished the sentence considering it not worthy of being said aloud.
You are still holding grudge, I thought you had some kind of…..deal with Tom and now we were supposed to start it fresh"

"Wow, aren't you guys really close? Such close-bonds. I just had this conversation with him not an hour ago" did Harry wasn't able to convey his thought properly or Black was just beyond hope now?

He looked proud at that and puffed out his chest "I am part of his inner circle"

Hopeless it is then.

"I can't promise it but do as I say and we will see what can be done" Harry was having difficulty in believing it.
When had he given any indication that he wanted to be anywhere near them?

"Really ? No thanks, I think I 'll manage"

He mistook Harry's words "don't be so unambitious, I know you started with wrong foot but Tom appreciate talent and I will help wherever I can"

"Thanks for the offer but I don't want to be a minion of Riddle" he opened his mouth but Harry fed up by his drama snapped "what do you want; you think you are fooling me? You will help, oh please, you are a Black! You won't give the water of your bathtub after your bath to dying man to drink without getting anything in exchange and you want to bond with me, just cut it out and spill. If you want to me hear then start talking I have far better things to do." For whatever bizarre reason he smiled, his eyes dancing in amusement after Harry finished with his tirade.

"This. This is what I want. He replied almost giddy "Now that you asked me to say it outright let me tell you, I want you." Harry almost lost his balance.

"What?" his tone incredulous.

"I enjoy your insolence, the way you speak, always ready bite heads off and willing to do whatever you want not caring for consequences" he wink at him flirting "I don't believe it for a single second that you didn't knew what you were doing when you decided to trick us into confessing. No one would dare it, not with us let alone when Tom is involved, you have been here long enough to understand the hierarchy, even first years do it in the first week."

"I am not a first year"

"Yes, you are not and I would have considered it a foolish Gryfindor thing if you had regretted it and come begging forgiveness but no you looked right into our eyes and waited for our next move ready to deal with it." He saluted "You even managed to get a deal from Tom as well. You definitely are something! I want this in my life, much more refreshing."

"The purpose of life just got fulfilled that I succeeded in providing you entertainment."

"Is that so? Splendid" a new voice, painfully familiar interrupted their conversation.

"Tom, you here? We were just coming to meet you"

"We were?" Harry couldn't help throwing in.

Black seemed black was given the kidnapper duty without being seen like one.

"No need, Alphard" he replied looking like he was bestowing great mercy on him, he probably thinks he was.

"Now that you guys have each other, I will take my leave, see you later….. well I rather not."

"Black you may leave" Harry didn't waited to listen what they would say, but this wasn't what he was expecting, nonetheless he tried to get out of there as fast as he can without being seen as running away and if he wouldn't have heard that "Time traveller." He probably would have make it but Harry stopped dead; he anxiously looked at Black to see if he had heard, he didn't.

Harry rounded on Riddle," What the hell? Why did you call me-"
"What tim-…"Harry made a frustrated noise at the back of his throat and grabbed his hand before dragging him into an empty classroom "sshh".

He casted a silencing charm," Are you crazy? What were you doing, calling me that "Harry was struggling with himself "What if someone had heard? Black was just there, we were in the middle of the corridor, for merlin's sake!"

"You didn't stop when I called you."

" When?"

"Just now" He retorted like it was obvious, "Well you wouldn't have."

"So you didn't even try and went for the kill" He had said that sarcastically as he could but if it fell on the deaf ear.

"Yes, that's much more my style. " He even seemed proud, "I don't waste time on the things, I know won't work."

Harry was tempted to ask about what he was doing right now, but so close to public, he didn't risk the consequences.

"Now that we got it out of the way that you prefer stalking and threatening than asking nicely, shall we also breach what is it so interesting about me, that you are willing to go such heights."

"Interesting? You want a list? how about mischievous appearance, secretively demeanor, random disappearances, and last but not the least, the one and only longest time traveller here…well everywhere" He finished dramatically. "You weren't expecting me to stay away forever, were you?

"Guess I was but as the fate would have it, every good thing have to end somewhere." Harry took the dirty seat after dusting it with his hands "Suppose I really can't fault you for existing – I mean coming. What do you want to know?" Harry sighed.

He has been expecting for something like this to happen, it could be worse, he was very aware of it, and decided it would be better to handle this situation in a way where he could actually control it and it would only happen when he will be the one who will become the source of the information.

"I was expecting more struggle but may be there is still some hope for you."

"I am an optimistic not a fool." Harry retorted. "Though I assumed the same for you, figuring you would know I won't answer everything and don't even think about vertiserum, I promise I will not lie, simply will choose to stay silent if I don't want to answer or simply say I don't know. You have 30 minutes, go on."

Riddle took a seat in the front of him cleaning it with a nonverbal wandless spell, without even looking it.

"Alright ask"

"What do you know about me?"

Why Harry wasn't surprised, they are slytherines of course won't waste time in asking pointless questions.

The problem was Harry couldn't answer this question, if he wanted his world to actually exist and he had promised not to lie and staying silent means alerting Riddle which really wasn't even good.
" are you going to answer or-"

"-Don't know about you but we mere humans need time to think if asked as random question out of blue.

When he still looked expectantly "I didn't know you personally, if that is what you were expecting, in fact I don't think I have ever met Tom Riddle personally." No just Voldermort and that also not on good terms.

"Details" why did Harry even thought he can get out of it without any damage.

"Well, I have heard your name, means you will be recognized if not famous and not to stroke your already inflated ego, I heard it from the most powerful wizard of all time" anything less would not be accepted by Riddle and he was already treading on thin ice.

"Go on I am waiting."

"I am barely seventeen, in my real time also; you can't really expect me to take interest in life outside of Hogswart, especially when you will be a senior citizen in my life"

"Do you know what I will do? Occupation I mean" the last part was added to cover the last part not that Harry bought it.

Does psychopath on a killing spree have a particular name as an occupation?

"I am not sure, politician may be, I have never seen you participate in any of the elections but you are said to have a lot of influence in the working of ministry, how is beyond me, never seen your photo in a Newspaper but media cannot be trusted right?" you prefer to slither in dark, not asking for public recognition yet getting it.

"Anything else?" his face didn't give away what he was thinking, Harry had no idea whether he was buying it or not.

"Obsessive about yourself, aren't you?" Harry teased a last resort to waste as much time as he could.

"Don't you have anything else that you want to know? Like the number of the lottery which will win or the name of the quiditch team that will win?"

The unimpressed look that Riddle gave him told him he wasn't subtle enough.

"Fine you had a lot of people to do your bidding…..or will and that also influential ones"

When he still looked at him as if waiting for him to continue, Harry snapped "what? you want me tell you when will you have breakfast fifty years from now on, or which brand of clothes you will wear? Snap out of your superiority complex, it's a miracle I remember this much!"

Harry stood up ready to go but first "If you think every time you want me to do something you can blackmail me to tell my secret to the world, let me remind you, we already discussed this, take a trip to memory lane if you can't remember and don't think for even a second that what you got out of me today was you're doing, I did it because I knew you will follow me around like a lost puppy unless I give you something to lick on" Harry knew this could very well end whatever truce they have managed to arrive at but again Harry wasn't exactly a Ravenclaw material was he? "I simply wanted to get it over with, you have no leverage on me, and you know it. After all secrets can be two side edged swords, can't they? Now I believe the time is almost over, I will take my leave, hope don't meet you soon"

"There are still 30 seconds left; do will we have anything to do with each other?"

Harry had taken down the silencing spell. "Yes"

"What?"

"Time's up. No more answers and expiations for you, I for one do not want to do anything with you but you seem to follow me around wherever I go" and with that Harry left before tom could even open his mouth.

.
.

Today was the first trip to Hogsmeade, the whole school was buzzing with excitement of students, even teachers looked pleased to go out, ever since war with Grinwarld ended, this was first time people were allowed to enjoy themselves without fear.

But for Harry the reason was entirely different, he was happy because he will not go to Hogsmeade, he didn't have his permission letter signed, not that he wanted to go, he was just happy that he will finally have sometime alone!

Just a few hours more till all of them leave.

.
.

"Five Butter beers please"

Tom waited for their order to come as his companion discussed where to go next.

Their order arrived and they were enjoying the calm atmosphere, when a boy came running to them panting and waited in front of him, seeking his attention all of them willing to do anything just to get his single glance, all except one.

"Speak"

"Hogwarts is under attack."