Title: Just Tom

Author: Razberry

Genre: Romance/Angst

Rating: PG... will go up

Disclaimer: ...Do I really have to say it?

Warnings: Nuffink dis part!

Summary: Response to one of QueenStrata's challenges. Harry is staying at Hogwarts over the summer, and finds a really nifty mirror that shows whoever looks into it the person that is most like them. Now Harry has to overcome the challenges of getting along with his so called "match"... The only problem? It's none other than Tom Riddle. And what does Dumbledore have to do with this?!

Notes: I had a BLAST the 20th-21st, but I was totally wiped out. *wipes brow* I managed to read OotP in 11.5 hours, beginning at 1:00 AM on the 21st and ending at 2:30 PM approx... I did not eat or sleep during any of this. I was at a book release party the 20th. I had gotten ZERO sleep for like... the past 36 hours. Needless to say I was tired. ^_^ Sleep is good. ***IMPORTANT!!!*** Because this was begun BEFORE the 5th book came out, I will NOT be including anything from that book, as this would be absolutely impossible already (not that it wasn't it the first place, but now there stuff that REALLY doesn't work). Don't worry, I'm not gonna spoil the book for those of you that haven't read it. I'm just letting you know that anything included in OotP will most likely not be mentioned here unless it was also discussed in a previous book or I had come up with it myself (and it just happened to be the same as one of JKR's things she added). *sighs* Wow, this is long, I didn't even say whether the book was good or not. Which it was. Excellent. It's definitely my favorite so far, even if some parts are sad, and I am telling EVERYONE out there to read it! Seriously. I was trying to convince the waiter at Olive Garden to go read the HP books last night. And the pizza man. ^_^ And this old lady at the cappucino(spl?) machine. Hehe... anyways, I'm gonna shut up now and let you guys read the chapter.

Also, if you see a number in a set of these [] that means I have an explanation for that word or phrase at the bottom of the chapter. And since ff.net does not seem to appreciate italics, the character's thoughts will be in /these/. All annoying inner voices will speak in \these\. And since some characters have telepathic abilites, anything that is thought-spoken will be in these. Everyone got that? If not, here's the simplified version for all you idiots out there(j/k).

[] - I have an explanation for that word/phrase at the end of the chapter.

/ / - Peoples individual thoughts

\ \ - Those cute inner voices everybody loves

- Telepathic speech

" " - Regular speech

Okay, well, I think that's it. Now get on with the fic!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*

The next week passed fairly uneventfully. Harry & Tom quickly became good friends, and Severus & Sirius' hatred for one another seemed to have diminished into severe annoyance. Classes weren't that difficult; Sirius was attempting to teach the boys how to become animagi, and Severus was teaching a "Super Advanced Way Too Difficult Potions Torture Session", as Harry had dubbed it. The Boy Who Lived doubted even Hermione could make some of the things the Professor was having them try.

But as for now, the two wizards were on a lunch break.

"What do you think your animagi form is going to look like?" Tom asked before taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"Nothing," Harry answered, sipping his drink. "Because I'm never going to be able to do it. We've been at 3 hours every day for the past week and neither of us has gotten anywhere."

"Mr. Black did say it would take time," Tom reminded his friend. "I think I'd like to be a wolf, or something equally fast and strong... I'd hate to end up as something stupid, like a grasshopper or something."

Harry was about to reply, when he suddenly felt something light and fluffy land on his head. Reaching up, the green eyed boy plucked the object from his scalp.

"Pig," Harry sighed and shot a glare at Tom, who was rolling on the ground in laughter[1]. He quickly divested the minute owl of its letter (which Harry assumed was from Ron), and tossed the annoying little fluffball into the air.

"Go on now, shoo!" Harry waved at the excited bird, who decided that Tom looked more fun, and began hovering over him instead.

"Hey! Get away! Get off me!" Tom said slapping at an overexuberant Pigwidgeon, who, if his happy hooting gave any indication, was not at all offended at being hit around like a beach ball. On the contrary, it seemed to only make the tiny bit of fluff even more excited.

Harry meanwhile, was eagerly opening the envelope that had been attached to Pig's leg. Just as he had thought, it was from Ron. But apparently Hermione was with him too, because she had a letter in there as well. He picked up Ron's first, trying to read his best friend's messy scrawl.

**Harry,

How've you been, mate? Summer's been right boring 'round here. The most action we've had is Hermione showing up on Thursday, said her parents left to go to some Dentist's Convention[2] and she needed a place to say for a few days. So anyway, who'd you see in the mirror? Is she pretty? Nice? Single? Heh, just joking about that last one mate, 'Mione would skewer me if she saw that[3]... Oops, gotta go. Dinner's ready!

Ron**

"So I'm a girl, am I?"

Harry jumped about a foot in the air, not realizing that Tom had moved so he could read over the other boy's shoulder.

"Eh, I suppose I could be worse things," Tom said with a smirk. "Like a Gryffindor, for one."

Harry scowled a swung his arm around to hit the other boy, but Tom had expected this and swiftly moved out of arm's reach. Giving up for the moment (he really didn't care at all, if he were to be perfectly honest), Harry pulled out the second piece of parchment, from Hermione.

**Harry,

I expect Ron's told you why I'm at the Burrow, so I'll get straight to the point. Who is your other half? We're all simply dying to know over here. What's he/she like? Is it anyone we know? Oh, I can't wait to meet him/her! Which teachers are there with you? I suppose Dumbledore is there, naturally, and Binns, but I don't suppose he'd be much help now would he? Is it McGonagall? I do hope you haven't been forced to spend a summer with Snape, that would be dreadful. Do write back soon, Harry!

Hermione**

"Well, at least she has considered the option that I might be male," Tom said. He had moved back to read over Harry's shoulder once more. "Are you going to tell them?"

Harry was silent. He hated hiding things from his friends, and they would find out anyway... but he really didn't want anyone to know right now if he could help it.

"No, I don't think so," Harry said softly after a few moments. It just didn't feel like a good idea right now.

"Whatever."

Tom shrugged; it didn't bother him any. Honestly, he was a bit fearful of everyone's reaction to him. If it was anything like Harry's... he probably wouldn't survive the year.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Meanwhile, Sirius and Severus were sitting impatiently in the headmaster's office, waiting for Dumbledore to arrive.

"Where is he at?" Sirius grumbled. "He told us to be here at 1:00."

Snape said nothing, opting to ignore the animagus rather than get into a fight. He had been doing that a lot lately. Ignoring, I mean. He'd decided that being completely reclusive was better than being... friends... with Sirius Black.

Luckily, the two wizards did not have to wait much longer, as a few minutes later, Dumbledore strolled into the room.

"Ah, sorry I'm late," Dumbledore said, eyes sparkling. "I was just checking up on our two boys. How are their studies going?"

Sirius said "fine" just as Severus said "awful". Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"The boys are doing very well in my classes," Sirius said, shooting a glare at Snape. "Considering the level of difficulty. It took James, Peter, and I the better part of 3 years to learn how to be animagi; with a little more work, I think these two could have it down in a year."

"Excellent," Dumbledore said, beaming.

"I am sorry to say that they are not doing nearly as exceptional in my classes," said Snape, not sounding sorry at all. "Mr. Riddle is doing fine, but Mr. Potter cannot even make an Invisibility potion."

"Snape, I can't make an Invisibility potion and I'm forty, going on forty-one[4]," Sirius said with annoyance. "That's a very complicated potion and what does Harry need it for, anyway? He's got James' cloak."

Snape muttered something along the lines of "Damned cloak.." and then said louder, "But perhaps he does not have his cloak with him, what then? And if he cannot even make that, then he will be completely useless when it comes to Metamorphic potions."

Sirius was about to make a reply, when Dumbledore interrupted.

"And what of the bond? Have either of you noticed an increase in abilities?"

The two black haired wizards fell silent.

"I thought so," Dumbledore said. "If you could call the boys up, Severus, I have something to tell all of you."

*~*~*~*~*~*

To Be Continued...

Notes: Ok, um. Very short note. Next part should be up in mid-July... before Harry's b-day. Oh yeah, and sorry for not getting it out before OotP like I said I would... I forgot my sister's birthday was the 19th... she turned 8... I think... Anyway, next chapter we find out what Dumbledore is gonna tell 'em! Ooh...

EXPLANATIONS & DEFINITIONS

[1] Well, seeing an owl sitting on someone's head would be pretty funny...

[2] Is there really a Dentist's Convention...?

[3] In case I haven't mentioned this before, Ron and Hermione are supposed to be dating... just thought I'd clear that up.

[4] According to the fifth book, that's about right. At least, if I'm remembering correctly... *runs back to double check*

*~*~*~*~*~*

And now to thank my wonderful reviewers...

Firstly, I would like to apologize to Nate. If you're reading this, I'm sorry. I was having a really crappy day when I wrote that, and I'm sorry for being so harsh. I was just frustrated because I thought I had already cleared that up & I suppose I thought the way you said it was kind of rude. So forgive me for being so mean. ^_^

Fin-Phoenix

catsncritters - Ooh... I didn't even think of what Harry and Tom would have talked about during their "animated conversation"... I honestly just didn't feel like typing. ^_^ *gets idea for a cute lil side fic* Oh great... more stuff to write... lol. I'm a moron.

arcee

Tigris_Lex - Actually, I have thought about bringing in the other founders' descendants... I'm just not sure if there's room in this fic for that... maybe in a sequel. Great. A prequel, sequel, and side fic are already in my head... there aren't enough hours in the day...

KD

HPIceAngel

frizzy - Once again, I apologize for the shortness of last chapter. ^_^ I honestly feel horrible about that, I really do. As for Harry/Tom interaction, there was a bit in here, and more to come... Sirius and Severus will take a little longer though. Right now they still dislike each other.

QueenStrata - Yeah, not too much of a chance to write... but I gave up my Tenn. trip (I am supposed to be there now), so I'm not as bad off as I though I would be. Never can have too many Pixie Stix, eh? *nods* But there is such a thing as too little.. *gazes mournfully at the empty cupboards* Anyway, I hope this part is better than the last! *shudders as she remembers the shortness*

*~*~*~*~*~*

*does a dance & points to review button* C'mon people, you know you want to!