First Note: Sorry! I am terribly but seeing how many people want me back I'm back with more of Wiley. It might be awful seeing as I'm having writer's block but I'll try I promise.
Second Note: Yes, the New Year has brought another chapter. I'm completely sorry again. I started finishing this chapter up during break and then I started playing a game and now I'm back on it.
Response to Reviews: Catalina – thank you for your comments. I need them and yes, the ones where Harry and Tom are paired off together they are horrible. There might be one or two exceptions but I don't like the whole you have to go back in time crap. Stupid, stupid plots. Though I did like Abandon if you read that one. It was like a guilty-pleasure, something like chocolate. Oh boy. PageMaster, thank you for reviewing. I might have updated earlier or decided to mess with this chapter earlier but I didn't think people were reading it anymore, so I didn't. Thank you from reminding me of how much I like Wiley and everyone else does too.
------
Chapter 5
-----
"Mmm…" mumbled a sleepy Tom as he rolled over the room was dark for the most part and seeing it was not even seven in the morning there was no reason for there to be light. It was Spring Break and all of the seventh years had left the school as soon as they could. Except for Tom who's two excuses for staying were that he didn't want to go back to an orphanage and because he didn't want to leave Wiley. The younger boy had woken up at appropriate time for a school day but the half-grunt from his companion made him slip back under the covers and nestle closer to him. Another "mmm" was made and Tom pressed a kiss on Wiley's cheek. "Not yet," was his quiet demand about getting up. It'll be seven-thirty before the two would open their eyes.
The bed made a soft creak as Tom rose from his sleep. "Am I allowed to get up, now?" the younger boy asked looking at Tom's bare back. The fifth year crawled up on the bed, and ran a finger down the young man's spine. "Please?" he added into his ear, as Tom's brown eyes looked back at him. There was a tired wave for the boy's permission.
Wiley left Tom alone and headed for the bathroom. Stopping at the sink, he looked at himself in the mirror; there were dark circles under his eyes. He had neglected to cut his hair for the past month or so, but it didn't really seem to bother him or Tom for that matter. Timid fingers pushed back his hair to where the scar was from two weeks ago. The same sink too, he realized when he looked down. Some might consider Tom to be too dangerous to be with, so was Wiley doing the right thing? Staying with him, leaning on the sink he turned on the water to cold. Technically they weren't together, he just assumed, Tom never said anything about being together… Wiley placed his hands under the water it brought a pleasant shiver down his back.
Turning around, Wiley looked over at the door expecting Tom to be standing there instead it was still closed. The fifth year sighed and looked back at the mirror and the running water in the sink. He cupped his hands and splashed the water against his face when he heard Tom coming to the door, "Wiley?" He looked over once more expecting Tom to enter the lavatory, but he didn't show. It had been two weeks since Tom showed up in this one, he was a peculiar boy Wiley had begun to realize, but he also began to realize that there was no turning back now. Tom Marvolo Riddle dropped whatever emotional shield he had for Wiley, a muggle-born. Wiley dropped his head, would Tom hate him for it? No… Wiley shook his head, "Wiley!" Tom was beginning to become impatient. He shrugged and turned off the water.
"Sorry," he emerged from the doorway seeing Tom already dressed in his uniform. The fifth spotted his clothing all ready spread out on the bed, a smile came to his face, "thanks." He went for his clothes and began to dress.
The seventh year had turned away in an almost embarrassed sort of way. He walked to the window and looked down at the green scenery of the Hogwarts grounds. The snow had long since melted in the early weeks of the month. Tom stood there, until Wiley appeared at his side dressed in the uniform not including the tie and sweater he had left in his own dorm. Tom eyed the fifth year cautiously from the corner of his eye, and then turned to him. "It's time for breakfast," with that Tom turned sharply his school robe making a quick swish and he left the dorm heading for the Great Hall. Wiley soon followed after him but kept a good distance between he and Tom; his peers might find it odd for him walking side by side with the most feared student at Hogwarts. He walked slowly, and Tom didn't notice as he entered the Great Hall.
Wiley soon followed behind and sat at the Slytherin table beside Tom. He began to eat in a silent fashion that covered the table. Wiley picked at his food with a bothered expression on his face that Tom did not care to ask about or he just didn't bother looking at the boy. They ate in silence and neither had any desire to talk about anything amongst each other.
Another fifth year came up to the two, his green eyes looked at Wiley and then took a quick glance into Tom's frightening brown eyes. The curly blonde haired boy gulped and looked at Wiley again, "Hey Wiley, you want to come to the library with me and work on our History of Magic homework?" he asked in a quiet voice that seemed to have came about from Tom's glaring.
Tom's young companion glanced over at him, and then back at his peer, "Yeah, sure Jonas. I'll meet you there in five minutes." And his friend left in a hurried fashion. Wiley turned back to Tom, "I'm sorry, I'll be quick about it. You can do your homework too…" he thought about it and looked at Tom who in his eyes seemed to be quite annoyed. He finished off his roll, and left the table; Tom turned back around and finished his food.
---
At the correct time, Wiley showed in the library which was only occupied by his curly-haired friend. Jonas was another Slytherin that stayed behind during the break and essentially the only other Slytherin that called Wiley a friend besides Tom. They had met on the train coming over in his first year and stayed friends during the years but never quite bonded farther then doing their homework together. He came over to the table Jonas had been seated at for a few minutes with his books. Wiley put down his books and sat across from him, "Alright… so we're doing that paper?"
Jonas nodded and took out a few rolls of parchment along with his textbook. "Doesn't that Riddle guy frighten you?" he inquired as he unscrewed the top of his inkbottle.
Doing the same, Wiley had flipped open his book and started scanning the information. "Well… not really," he bit his bottom lip in a nervous fashion he had adopted from his father. He dropped his hazel gaze to his parchment and scrawled his name on the top with the raven feather quill he had borrowed from Tom not that long ago. His friend gave him an odd look, and dropped his own eyes to his paper, starting to write on it.
The silence that had overcome their dining table had now come to the library. The scratching of quills against the parchment was a sound that had normally filled the dorm when it was just Wiley and Tom but now it was Wiley and Jonas a pair not many people saw together. Wiley finished off his fifth sentence and looked up to see the bowed head of his friend. The blonde curls following forth in front of the boy's face, it was much different then the contrasting colour of Tom's black hair. His peer's green eyes were also much different and seemingly more inviting then Tom's brown eyes with the speckles of scarlet in them. Wiley brushed aside his hair thinking of Tom who probably retreated back to the dorm to read yet another book or work on his own homework. Wiley looked back down at his paper and began to write again.
---
Wiley had spent at least five hours in the library writing his paper and chatting with Jonas. He knew he spent a little too long in the library but he'd be spending more time with Jonas next year and the year following. There needed to be a friendship to fall back on when Tom leaves Hogwarts for good. Side by side with Jonas, the two boys returned to the Great Hall where they both sat and ate. Tom had not emerged from wherever he had gone to come to lunch. So there Wiley sat with his fellow fifth year talking about different things. Finishing up lunch, he looked at Jonas, "I've got to go, I'll see you later."
He began to get and gather his things when Jonas stopped him. "Are you going to be in the dorm tonight?"
Contemplating this, he shrugged, "I don't know. I might." Wiley picked up his books and hurried out of the Great Hall. He wanted to know where Tom had gone and why he didn't come down to lunch. Quickly he went to the Slytherin common room wondering if Tom was there. Wiley sighed noticing Tom hadn't come to the common room. He went up the stairs and checked the seventh year dorm. "Tom?" he called out going to the boy's bed and leaving his things on top of the trunk.
He wasn't there.
The fifth year rubbed his forehead wondering where the seventh year had gone. "Tom?" he called again and went into the lavatory, but the student wasn't in there either. "Tom!" he shouted, and went back to the dorm. Another sigh slipped from he, and he crashed on the four-poster. He only hoped his friend wasn't angry. Wiley snuggled his head into the pillow with frustration but the scent of Tom calmed him down and he just lay there quietly.
"Wiley?" a voice penetrated the cloud of sleep that shrouded his mind. Wiley made a soft moaning noise and began to open his eyes. "Wiley?" the voice was clearer in his groggy, homework-ed out mind, it was Tom's! The strong voice registered instantly.
Hazel eyes snapped open, "Uh… what time is it?" he asked rubbing his eyes with one hand while the other kept his propped up. Tom was still standing in front of him with brown eyes staring at him. He hadn't realized he had fallen asleep, apparently working on homework was too much for him or the bed was too comfortable with the smell of Tom on it.
Tom took a seat beside Wiley, and eyed the younger boy, "Seven, are you hungry?" the fifth shook his head, and Tom nodded. He looked away and stared off. Wiley quietly watched him for awhile, there was something about watching Tom think. He seemed to be so involved with his own thoughts he ignored everything and everyone else. Wiley sat there just watching Tom until he turned back at Wiley, "Did you write your paper?"
The fifth year nodded and pulled his legs up against his chest giving Tom some room on the end of the bed. "Yeah, we both finished it. Me and Jonas, I mean," he looked at Tom. "He's a friend," he began, and looked at Tom not knowing if he was jealous or not. Before Wiley had always done his homework with Tom, he crawled over to Tom who put his arm around the younger boy who returned wrapped his arms around the seventh year's chest and they sat there for awhile like that; Tom just thinking over whatever he was thinking, and Wiley with his head against Tom's chest.
Normally, Wiley didn't talk while Tom was in one his contemplating moods, but when the fifteen year old was curious it was hard for him to keep quiet. In a small voice, hazel eyes looked up and the boy spoke, "Tom… where'd you go after I left?"
Tom's scarlet speckled eyes looked down at the boy, "I was studying," he said with a voice that Wiley completely trusted though he didn't at the same time. He stared at Tom, and the older boy stared back. Wiley silently trusted the boy with a nod. Tom leaned down and kissed his younger companion softly on the lips. Wiley, almost too eagerly, returned the kiss. The emptiness of the dormitory of that Spring break opened Tom's acceptance to the odd relationship he held but wouldn't steadily admit. They held the kiss without doing much; it was tender kiss that was almost innocent.
Tom broke away leaving Wiley to watch him curiously as he got off the bed and eyed the clock beside his bed; it was eight thirty. Wiley watched as Tom quietly gathered his pajamas from the night before and left the boy for the lavatory. The fifth year sighed, and gathered his clothing and dressed in the privacy of the large, empty dormitory.
Habits were what Tom had, Wiley had figured out a long while ago. There was nothing that could break the habits of the eighteen year old. The fifteen year old noted this and had given up on many things. Many people would expect after two years of being 'close' to each other, you would've seen more each other then just their school uniform. Wiley was just like every other boy except he was something that condemned in both worlds he belonged to and the same went for Tom. He sat on the bed after getting on his pajamas and saw Tom coming back to him.
"Are you tired?" the Head Boy asked, and Wiley nodded noticing he was even after the long nap he had. Tom only nodded on his way to the other side of the bed. Pulling back the blankets on top of the bed, Wiley crawled on top along side of Tom, who stayed sitting up perched against the headboard of the bed. He would stay up much longer than the fifth year who fell asleep shortly after getting into bed.
---
Spring break went by quickly, and Wiley returned to his residence in the fifth year dormitory along with the rest of his fellow male fifth years. He spent time with Tom and studied alongside with Jonas as the O.W.L.s came creeping up. Bryce continued to be a nuisance though not in the presence of a certain head boy.
The Tuesday following Spring break, Wiley lay in his own bed curled up with his eyes shut not really wanting to attend classes that day. As he began to open his eyes he noticed that the dorm was oddly quiet, he picked himself up and eyed the room. There was no one in the dorm. His brow furrowed and he checked the time. It was ten!
Wiley hurried about getting ready and gathering his things. He left the common room as quickly as possible but as he hit the second floor of the castle there was a large commotion. Every teacher stood there trying to get the students in an orderly fashion and away from whatever happened. Wiley curious as ever pushed toward the front of the crowd. What had happened? He scanned the crowd for anyone he knew. Standing there in the center of the crowd he couldn't get any further.
"Wiley! Wiley!" Jonas tugged on his arm, bringing up toward the front where he was. "It's Bryce!" He almost half-shouted.
The fifth year looked ahead and spotted his peer lying on the floor. His face was a sickly, almost pasty white. And there seemed to be thick watery, slime coating on his skin. The nurse had quickly rushed over and was getting ready to transport the boy back to the infirmary while the professors were getting the students to hurry back to their classes. With the throng of students, Wiley walked with Jonas but Bryce's face was still in his mind.
Jonas shifted his books in his arms, "What do you think happened? And where've you been? You missed Herbology… you know… Wiley?"
Looking over at Jonas, Wiley shrugged, "Overslept, and I don't know what happened to him…" he lied, he think he did know what happened to Bryce. Wiley was beginning to feel sick to his stomach.
"Let's hurry to class before there is point deduction," Jonas tugged on his friend's arm once and they hurried along to History of Magic.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: I hope everyone enjoyed the long awaited fifth chapter of ATCA. Sorry, it sounds like a cliffhanger and you guys might have to wait a bit until the sixth chapter. Yeah… it's four and half pages long, so be happy. It's one page and quarter longer than chapter four.