Harry's first week of school was an exhausting melange of trying to fit in, coping with a ton of emotions and hiding from Riddle's penetrating gaze. The latter turned out to be quite manageable as they shared only two other classes, one of them being Defence Against the Dark Arts, the other Care of Magical Creatures. In both classes he made sure that he didn't attract attention.
At Wednesday after dinner he got a somewhat awkward surprise in form of Professor Slughorn who invited him to a "little party" in his rooms at Saturday evening. He then babbled on about the attendees being "rising stars" and how generous and pathbreaking this commitment of his was, especially for students like Harry.
He didn't give Harry even a chance to decline and so he eventually accepted and thanked Slughorn just to get away from him.
But there was worse to come.
On Friday at the end of Harry's Charms class, Dumbledore pulled Harry aside and told him, that he hadn't found out anything new yet. He was eagerly searching but it would take some time if he wanted the matter to stay discreet.

Depressed Harry made his way to the Gryffindor Tower. As if the staircases could sense his exasperation, they led him straight to the entrance of the Gryffindor Common Room which was packed with dozens of students. A surge of noise and sweaty air threatened to overwhelm Harry. They were enjoying the start of their first weekend even despite the rather rainy and cold weather outside.
To Harry's frustration his dorm was also crammed with students, all of them cheerful and carefree.
He didn't have the energy to endure the noise and excitement. So he fled, at least it felt like that.

Out of the Common Room he stopped at the staircase to take a deep breath. Never had he felt this exhausted...exhausted and lonely. He felt like his life had been stolen away from him. He didn't belong here and he had no guaranty that he would ever get back home.
He couldn't bear to return to the Gryffindor Common Room right now, he needed silence.
So he started to wander through the vacant corridors, the sound of rain lightly beating against the windows.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't pay attention to where his feet took him. He almost laughed when he realized where he had gone.
Right in front of him, doorway wide open, was the library. Yes, that definitely was one of the most quiet places he could have gone to.

Strolling through the aisles, he only met a handful other students all of them preoccupied with books or scrolls. In a slightly secluded part of the library he found a vacant table next to one of the windows. There was just a little candle flickering next to a forgotten pile of old scrolls.
He sat down on one of the chairs, looking out of the blurry window.

He sat there for what felt like hours, immersed in his misery, when suddenly there was the sound of someone moving the chair opposite his.
»I take it you are not as enthusiastic about Hogwarts as I am?« a velvety voice said. »Or is it just that Gryffindor wasn't the right choice after all? I would understand that.«
When Harry looked up, there was the wisp of a smile on Riddle's face. The sight of him made his heart beat faster. All of a sudden his whole body was tensed up. Harry's mood sank even further.
»No..no, I'm just thinking about...home.« Harry answered slowly.
Riddle's expression didn't betray any emotion.
»You know, as one of the prefects you can always confide in me.«
Harry almost felt like gagging. Confide in Tom Riddle...
»Thank you.«
There was just the hint of an awkward pause before Riddle went on.
»So, have you settled in well in Gryffindor?«
»Yes. They are all very nice and welcoming.«
»Thus nice and welcoming that you rather spend your first Friday evening alone in the library?« Riddle said it with an easygoing smile, or at least that's what others would've called it.
»Oh, that's not their fault. I just needed some space.«
»Ah, and I almost thought you would come here to study.«
Nonchalantly, Riddle took one of the scrolls from the pile on the table.
»Yours?«
»No.«
Riddle nodded while looking at the scroll.
»Ghouls…« he said in a contemptuous tone before he turned his eyes back to Harry.
The flickering light of the candle reflected in them and as if the sight flipped a switch in Harry's head, he suddenly didn't have the energy to face Riddle any further, to withstand his piercing glance.
»I should go. I haven't done all my homework yet.« Harry said while standing up.
»I understand. It was nice meeting you here.« Riddle said, leaning back in his chair.
»Yes, it was...Thank you for your offer.«
For the second time this day, Harry felt as if he was fleeing when he left the library.
He knew he was and he hated himself for it

»What do you think about him?«
Leisurely, Tom waved his right hand, willing the pile of scrolls to float back to their proper places on the shelves, before he averted his gaze from the spot where Evans had vanished down the aisle. Only then did he turn to Lestrange who was leaning against one of the wooden bookshelves.
»I think that there is more to him than it seems.«