A/N: Wicked Lee thought of Harry and Tom sharing a dorm and suggested that Tom could steal a girl Harry likes. So far, I only have the girl stealing in thought form and I don't know if Tom will actually do it.

The next day Harry was summoned into Dumbledore's office. After being offered thirty-five varieties of sweets he sat down and asked, "What is it, Headmaster?"

"I've decided," Dumbledore began, "that you and Tom must share a dorm."

Harry, who was sipping tea at the time, said, "Mphrlack!"

"Yes, yes," Dumbledore chuckled, "I can see why you'd be upset – sharing a room with your arch nemesis, the man who killed your family and has been trying to kill you all sixteen years of your life – but Tom is a changed person. I believe in him."

"That's all wonderful," Harry said, trying to keep his voice level, "but why do I have to share a room with him?"

"Well, he's been having a bit of difficulty getting along with the other students…."

"Maybe because he's evil," Harry interrupted.

"…And it would really help him to have someone looking out for him. You know, making sure he doesn't get into fights and things like that." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

Harry passed out.

Awhile later, the brown haired Gryffindor wearing a shirt awoke to see Tom Riddle jabbing him in the arm with an incredibly long stick. "What are you doing?" gasped Harry.

"Well, I wouldn't want to use a short stick, would I?" Tom said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Harry decided not to pursue the matter and went back to sleep.

'Delightful,' thought Tom, as he stared menacingly at the sleeping, bespectacled humanoid character. 'Now that we're sharing a room, I can bother him more than I ever thought possible. But wait—I said I wouldn't do bad things!' he thought for a moment. 'Oh well, I am evil.' He chuckled and then began thinking of other ways to annoy Harry, 'Hmm,' he began, 'I could arrange for him to walk in on me "getting to know" a girl he really likes…that would be spectacular. Who does Harry like? The only person I can think of is Cho Chang. But do I want to do anything with her?' He thought about it for five minutes, then decided, 'No…she's too whiny.' He pondered a bit more, 'And she probably wouldn't like me because I killed her boyfriend. Damn! Why does this have to be so hard?' By this time, Tom was feeling incredibly depressed. He went over to the kitchenette and fixed himself a nice, hot cup of chai. Soon he was feeling much better, much better indeed.

It was at this point that Harry woke up. He stretched sleepily and then began to look around. It was quite amusing for Tom to watch the bipedal creature, wrapped up in the obliviousness of just waking up, begin to look around and see that he was in a strange room. Soon his eyes fell upon Tom and he said, "Yaghah!"

"My," said Tom, "You're certainly not one for the use of actual words, are you?"

Harry glared at him but the effect was destroyed by the pillow marks covering the left side of his face, not that it would have frightened Tom in the slightest anyway (lest we forget – he is the Dark Lord).

Tom giggled and said, "Isn't it time for lunch?"

"Yes," muttered Harry angrily.

They went down to the great hall and sat at their tables. Harry was indescribably glad to be away from Tom for the entire lunch period. However, his joy was quickly dampened by the appearance of Snape. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "Why aren't you at the staff table?"

"Oh…you know," said Snape vaguely.

"Er…no, sorry," said Harry, wishing he were somewhere else.

"Detention, Potter," Snape glared at Harry menacingly. "Oh, I just thought of something very amusing," he said after a pause.

Harry was really dreading finding out what the bitter Potions professor found amusing. It was probably something sadistic.

"…You have detention at the same time as your despicable nemesis and roommate," Snape paused for drama and then continued unnecessarily, "Tom Riddle."

"Oh," said Harry, thinking how great it would be if he were dead.

Snape walked away, chuckling sinisterly. (A/N: if anyone can think of anymore synonyms for devilishly, menacingly, etc…please let me know).

Ron and Hermione gave Harry several sympathetic looks. Over the years (what with their proximity to Harry) they had brought giving sympathetic looks to an art form. Hermione had at least seventeen distinct ones and Ron had about fifteen and a half. Of course, none of them did Harry any good, but he let them keep it up because he didn't want them to feel useless.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Tom was feeling a bit under the weather. He didn't really want to go to detention that night, as he wasn't particularly fond of Snape. Perhaps it had something to do with his betrayal? More likely, it was because of his greasy hair. Tom just couldn't fathom how the man could so thoroughly neglect his hair. Tom unconsciously ran a hand through his own hair, as if to reassure himself that it was still as clean and soft as always. He smiled to himself, thinking that if his hair ever turned out like Snape's, there was always suicide. Or shaving it off, but that would be positively hideous. 'No…' he thought, 'suicide would be better.' He sighed softly and went back to his pudding. It was butterscotch, king among puddings. Unless you count rice. Tom began to ponder, trying to decide which was better: butterscotch or rice pudding. Then he remembered Flan…and then he remembered who he was and decided to stop debating pudding in his head. 'Wait,' he thought, 'is Flan pudding or just Flan?' Then he decided that he didn't care and went to his room to study.

Soon, however, his studying was interrupted by Harry walking into the room and saying, "Oh. You."

"What? Surprised to see me in my own room, are you?" said Tom.

"It's not your room," Harry reminded him.

"Oh, I forgot," said Tom, "our room."

Harry shuddered and retrieved his books.

"You know," said Tom, "you're going to have to adjust to being around me a lot of the time."

"I hate you," said Harry.

"Yes, yes, we've been over that, but I'm really not such a bad guy once you get to know me."

"You're a murderer!"

"I'm surprised that you're still hung up on that."

Harry was too shocked and furious for words so, instead of responding, he dashed out of the room.

Tom shook his head, wondering when Harry would get over all the silliness. He decided not to dwell on it and went over to the mirror to comb his hair. "You know," he said to a snake who happened to be curled up in the corner of the room (for plot purposes [i.e. I don't want Tom to be talking to himself]). "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm bored and combing my hair just isn't doing it for me."

"Perhaps you should find something more stimulating," said the snake.

"It doesn't take a genius to think that up," Tom said.

"Don't get all snippy with me," the snake warned, "I'm the only one you have to talk to…no one else likes you here."

"Obviously," said Tom.

"Maybe," continued the snake, "you should teach them a lesson."

"Oh?"

"Start killing people who go against you, then everyone will be forced to be your friend."

Tom frowned, "Are you trying to tempt me over to the dark side?"

"No…no," said the snake unconvincingly.

"Yes you are," said Tom.

"Well, maybe a little bit," the snake conceded, "but I'm only trying to be a good snake. You know, like in the Bible."

"Well, unfortunately for you," Tom said, "you're astonishingly dim."

"What do you mean?" the outraged snake gasped.

"I'm Lord Voldemort. I'm already on the dark side, in fact, you might even say I personify the dark side. I hardly need your advice."

"Oh," said the snake disappointedly, "I'll just be going then."

"Bye," said Tom, watching the snake slither away.

"Who were you just talking to?" asked Pansy Parkinson, wandering into the room.

"How did you get in here?" asked Tom, ignoring her question.

"The door was open," she said.

"Damn Potter," Tom muttered.

"Yes," said Pansy, "so what are you doing, just staring in the mirror?"

"Yeah."

"Fun," she said, with out a trace of sarcasm.

"Want to join me?" he asked.

"Sure," she said brightly and skipped over to the mirror where Tom was standing. "So…" she said, "how's it going?"

Tom realized that he was going to have to make polite conversation with the girl so he said, "Fine."

"Good…" Pansy tried to think of more to say. "Do you like butterscotch pudding?"

Tom gasped, "Yes! How did you know?"

"I was just making conversation!" she said excitedly, "and I love talking about pudding!"

"So do I, but you can never tell anyone I said that."

"I won't, as long as you don't tell anyone about my love for pudding either."

"I won't." There was a happy pause and then Tom said, "Want to go to the Hogshead and get some?"

"Of course!" she said and they went off. You might wonder why they weren't in class. Your question can be easily answered by remembering that we're talking about Pansy Parkinson and Tom Riddle. They don't always have the greatest respect for the rules.

Soon they were at the little shop, eating pudding. "This pudding is so good," said Pansy.

"Yes," said Tom. After eating for a few moments he looked over at Pansy and said, "So…I suppose you've heard about the dance Hogwarts is having…."

"Er, no, I haven't."

"Oh. Well, there is one. They just haven't announced it yet."

"Oh."

"So, do you want to go with me?" Tom smiled charmingly.

"Sure," she smiled back and then fell off her chair.

"Oh dear," said Tom, helping her up.

"Aww," said the Scottish bartender, "you two look so cute…on your little date."

Tom glared at him, causing the Scotsman to duck behind the counter. "Hehe, I've still got my old 'glare powers,'" Tom said to Harry. Then he said, "Harry…what are you doing here?"

"Erm, nothing. I was just, you know, popping by."

"I see," said Tom, then he caught a glimpse of red hair behind the coat rack, "with Ron?"

"Yes. Well, we just umm…were in the mood for butterbeer."

"In the middle of class?"

"Tom," said Pansy, "the only reason they would skip class is to 'fight the forces of darkness.' It's common knowledge."

"Is this true?" Tom asked Harry.

"Well, yes…."

"It's true," said Ron, "We thought you were up to no good."

Tom raised an eyebrow.

"Hermione told us not to," Ron continued.

"At least she has some sense," said Tom.

"Harry," Ron whispered loudly, "I think we should leave."

"Yeah, looks like Tom has no time for danger," Harry said. "He's too busy asking out girls."

Tom rolled his eyes, "Come on Pansy. Let's get out of here."

"Ok," she said, and they left.