Harry's knees buckled as he was launched out of the fireplace. Instead of having time to catch his balance however, Harry went tumbling onto a large stone hearth as Tom crashed into the back of him. They landed in a sprawled heap, heads spinning from their dizzying journey through the floo.
Harry blinked back the spinning room as Tom fumbled desperately with Draco's wand. It took a moment for Tom to hold it steady, but when he did, thick blade flames erupted from its tip to burst into the fireplace.
Harry shuffled back, narrowly avoiding the violently spitting embers. He cast a glance at Tom.
"I don't think he followed us-" Harry started as he made to untangle himself.
Tom's free arm shot out, gaze still captivated by the flames, as he grabbed Harry's wrist.
"He can't have you, I won't let him take you-" Tom said, and although his voice was steady, Harry could feel Tom's tremors and the hurt pouring into him.
"You can't promise that, I agreed to it," Harry said quietly. "Riddle will have me one way or another."
Tom's expression darkened at this, but at least his grip loosened which allowed Harry to pull himself up from the floor. Riddle's price had been high, but surely the consequences of remaining trapped in the manor were worse.
"Anyway, it's not like I can help Riddle much at the moment, we're still in school-" Harry started.
"You don't need to defend your actions, Harry," Tom said sharply. "I just don't want him anywhere near you."
Harry crossed his arms as Tom pulled himself up to stand beside him.
"I can look after myself," Harry said.
Tom smiled at this, but only briefly before he fixed Harry with a very hard stare. When Tom spoke, his voice was cold and nothing but cruel.
"If I'm capable of sticking you in that cage, don't think he isn't."
Harry's mind flashed back, terror flooding through his veins, creeping into his very soul. It took a moment to find his voice and it sounded hollow and pathetic even to his own ears.
"I know that."
Tom's expression didn't change, instead he moved his fingers to tug around Harry's night clothes, pulling him closer.
"Do you?" Tom said so softly, his voice barely a whisper in Harry's ear. "Because Riddle has no attachment to you. He will use you only for his own personally gain."
With every heart beat, Harry could feel the terror from his nightmares coming to life, Tom's cruel glint matching his memories and the sense of overwhelming dread.
Harry shoved Tom away.
"Stop treating me like an idiot," Harry snapped, cheeks burning. "You think I don't know that?"
But the feeling was still there, the betrayal of Tom's actions cutting horribly deep that Harry would never be able to shake them. It happened instantly, all the hostility drained from Tom's face. His shoulder's sagged, eyes cast downwards as he took Harry's hand in his own.
"Please, Harry. I just don't want you to forget, I don't want him to hurt you like I have," Tom said quietly.
Harry faltered for the briefest of seconds.
"If you're trying to get me to feel sorry for you?"
Tom looked up, expression set.
"I'm not."
They held each others gaze before Harry looked away first, mouth dry. What was he supposed to say to that. Tom however, didn't seem to expect a response as he turned to observe their surrounding.
They were standing in a small dark kitchen, lit only by the black crackling fire. There was a scrubbed wooden table which had a number chairs spread around it. On the mantelpiece sat several books which had very un-muggle titles. A clock on the wall gave no indication of their time but it must still have been a few hours from sunrise.
"Come on," Tom said and he slipped his fingers into Harry's own. "Let's have a look around."
The house was unlike any Harry had ever been in. Instead of the grand rooms of Malfoy manor or the spotless rooms of Privet Drive, this house was by far the most lived in.
A scruffy red haired wizard waved at them from a nearby photograph, as they weaved themselves past the jumbled and cluttered array of furniture.
The next room happened to be a comfortable looking lounge. Harry pointed towards a very smart looking clock propped up next to another fireplace.
Instead of the usual hands, the clock had nine golden hands, each for one member of the Weasley family. Currently, most were pointed towards home, while a single hand belonging to Mr Weasley was directed at work.
"Ron's house?" Tom said. "Why did Riddle send us here?"
Harry shrugged. It was where he had wanted to go after all.
Tom seemed to realise this as he rounded on Harry again.
"Don't let Riddle in your head, Harry."
Harry rolled his eyes at this as he slumped down on a old squashy sofa.
"So what do we do now?" Harry said.
Tom looked less than impressed, but thankfully he didn't press Occulumency further as he stifled a yawn.
"Sleep," Tom said. "No one will be awake yet, and I'm sure the morning is going to be interesting."
Harry woke to a loud squeak and the sound of hooves.
His eyes blinked open, disorientated at the strange noise and the lack of a familiar hangings above his head. Tom was already awake and his shadowed eyes looked back at him as Harry's memories of the night before trickled back.
They were lying with their head and shoulders next to each other and their feet at opposite ends of the squashy sofa. Tom twisted around, so that his breath tickled Harry's face.
"Any nightmares?"
Harry paused for a moment before he shook his head.
"Mmm," Tom said. "I didn't think so."
Harry frowned but Tom didn't elaborate as there was the sound of footsteps, only this time they were accompanied by a loud bark.
"Harry!"
Ron appeared in the doorway and he was beaming from ear to ear. Sephronia barked happily, as she skirted around Ron's ankles.
Harry pulled himself up with a wide grin. Tom face was indifferent despite the flood of annoyance that ricocheted through Harry.
"You never said you were coming over?" Ron said as he beckoned them both to follow him into the kitchen. Sephronia skipped ahead of them, weaving in and out of all the precarious looking obstacles.
"I didn't think the Malfoy's would ever let you visit," Ron added. "I asked Dad if he'd speak to Malfoy's dad at work, but he said that wouldn't be a good idea. I guess that's the Ministry's doing?"
Harry couldn't help but exchange a look with Tom at this.
The scrubbed wooden table they had seen earlier was now occupied by the Weasley twins and their dæmons. Mrs Weasley was busy hovering over a large frying pan.
"Mum, look who turned up in the night," Ron beamed as he gestured at Harry.
The twins turned to look at them.
"I like the new look," Fred said with a nod at Harry as he chucked Celendria a piece of bacon. "But I guess you're famous, you can pull off the pajamas's covered in ash look."
Harry flushed as he attempted to bat some of the soot off his clothes. They'd been so preoccupied last night, neither Harry or Tom had bothered cleaning themselves up. It wasn't like he had any of his stuff with him either. George snickered as Demetria sat pining for some of his own breakfast.
"Harry, dear, we weren't expecting you!"
Mrs Weasley was just like how Harry remembered, bright red hair like her children and with Caedmon, her honey badger eyeing up Fred and George's dæmons warily. In a moment though, his eyes had flicked onto Tom. Mrs Weasley waved her wand in the direction of the sink which promptly began filling itself.
"I hope you don't mind?" Harry said. It wasn't as if him and Tom had anywhere else to go.
Mrs Weasley's smile didn't falter, but Caedmon was unnervingly still.
"Oh, no not at all dear. Ron's clothes should fit you," Mrs Weasley said, and with a sharp flick of her wand, a pair of muggle looking clothing sailed across from a drying clothes rack in the corner.
"Thanks," Harry said as he was pointed in the direction of the bathroom. Tom hesitated for the briefest of moments, before Harry grabbed his sleeve to tug him along.
"What's wrong with you?" Harry said as he held his head over the sink. He ran his hands through it in an attempt to get the dust out.
Tom only flicked Draco's wand causing the hairs on the back of Harry's head to stand on end as all the grime lifted from him instantly.
"I don't think we should stay here much longer," Tom said.
Harry fixed him a look as he threw a clean shirt over his head. He passed the other to Tom.
"Is this because of Riddle?" Harry said, "He's not going to follow us here."
Tom didn't reply to this, instead he only gripped Draco's wand tighter. Harry rolled his eyes. He would have pressed Tom on the matter, but the smell of breakfast and his rumbling stomach was enough to make him leave it for now.
They returned to find Mrs Weasley putting a couple of plates full of sausages, eggs and bacon out for them. Harry sidled into the bench beside Ron, pulling Tom with him.
"Where's your sister?" Mrs Weasley asked Ron. "I thought she was already awake."
Fred and George snickered as their huskies fought over more scraps of bacon. Ron who had his mouth full of breakfast, mumbled something incoherent as Sephronia jumped up onto the bench beside him.
Harry had just started tucking into his breakfast when he heard the sound of hooves again.
A very timid Ginny Weasley peered into the kitchen, she had one hand wrapped in her pony's mane. She skirted to sit at the far end of the table as her gaze flicked to Harry. Her cheeks burned bright red and she looked away.
Ron hadn't noticed any of this as he swallowed his mouthful and rummaged in his pocket.
"I was going to send this with Errol this morning, but it's probably better he didn't have to make the journey. I'm guessing Hedwig is off with Hermione?"
Harry felt a sudden rush of guilt. He didn't know if Hedwig was still trapped back in Malfoy Manor. Tom seemed to know what he was thinking.
"Dobby will sort her out," Tom whispered.
Ron presented Harry with a small present which looked like it had Sephronia teeth shaped tears in the side of.
"Happy Birthday, Harry."
It was a large box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.
"Thanks, Ron," Harry beamed.
And then Harry remembered the other present he had yet to open. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the roughly wrapped present from Draco. Harry tore the wrapping paper off.
It was a pocket book on the British and Irish Quidditch League, including various techniques on broomstick manoeuvres. Inside was a note scribbled from Draco, it read. Don't forget try-outs.
"Try outs?" Fred said as he peered over Harry's shoulder. "You're trying out for the team?"
Harry shrugged as Ron gaped.
"You actually got back on a broom?" Ron said.
"Well Draco wouldn't shut up about it," Harry said. "And then yesterday we went to a Quidditch match-"
"You went to the Falcon and Magpie game?"
And then all the Weasley's were crowded around him, even Ginny who had had been hiding behind her dæmon's mane poked out to listen.
"The last match Dad took us to was the Kestrals and Wasps game, that was ages ago mind."
"Well your dad can't always get tickets now, can he?" Mrs Weasley said as she put a fresh rack of toast out.
Just then, the front door slammed.
"Speaking of Dad, looks like him and Temmie are home," George said as both his and Fred's huskies were off, bouncing around the room with Caedmon growling at them to calm down.
Sure enough, a thin looking man dressed in long wizarding robes appeared in the kitchen.
"Did you get anything good, dad?" George started.
Mr Weasley slumped down in a kitchen chair and removed his glasses. His dæmon, Temmie, was a small weasel. Caedmon skipped across the floor and Harry watched as the small honey badger brushed faces in greeting.
"Arthur, are you alright?" Mrs Weasley.
Mr Weasley rubbed his eyes as his dæmon jumped up to rest in his lap. She settled down with a wide yawn.
"What a night! The whole ministry is in an uproar," Mr Weasley said.
"What happened, dad?" Fred said, sitting up eagerly as Celendia clambered over Demetria.
Mr Weasley sighed.
"Harry Potter is missing. Apparently there was some sort of disturbance at Malfoy Manor, not that the auror's are saying anything at all."
Every pair of eyes slipped across the table to Harry and Tom and even Celendia and Demetria quietened.
Harry suddenly found his half eaten toast very interesting.
"Neat," George said.
"Are you on the run or something?" Fred asked.
Harry shuffled, but Tom looked relatively unsurprised.
Ron bit his lip, clearly wanting to say something he shouldn't in company. Sephronia barked loudly.
Mr Weasley ran his hand over his face, eyes blinking open. His gaze found Tom first before settling across to Harry. It seemed to take him a moment for the realisation that Harry Potter was sitting at his kitchen table.
He sighed heavily and adjusted his glasses.
"I suppose I better take you both in," he said.
"But they've only just arrived," Mrs Weasley said as Caedmon shuffled around her feet. "They should at least finish breakfast?"
"Yeah, we should at least wait until they offer some sort of reward money," Fred chipped in, before ducking down at both his parents glares.
"Molly, they have the entire auror department on red alert," Mr Weasley said before his eyes shot warily back to Harry and Tom. He cleared his throat as his weasel shuffled. "You've been officially reported missing, it's all over the prophet."
Mr Weasley reached into his robes and pulled out a paper and set it down on the table. Mrs Weasley looked less than impressed as she glared coldly at her husband.
"The Ministry can wait," she snapped. "Goodness knows they have put them through enough."
At this Mrs Weasley gestured to the photograph. Harry peered forwards to get a better look of a large headline with the photograph Rita Skeeter had published last year. He had forgotten how ill he looked. It had been taken just after Lyra had left.
Mrs Weasley put her hands on her hips as Caedmon snarled.
"Molly, the Ministry believe they've been taken by-" Mr Weasley glanced around, very concious that his children were hanging onto his every word. "Well by his lot." Mr Weasley relented as he nodded at Tom.
"Mm," Tom agreed as he helped himself to more toast. "Death Eaters."
Mrs Weasley gasped as she clamped her hands over Ginny's ears.
"Mum!" Ginny said as Gallion neighed.
"Why is that a problem?" Fred said, as Celendia took a swipe at his toast. "Don't you control them?"
"Fred!" Mrs Weasley said.
"What?" Fred shrugged. "It's true though?"
Tom leaned forwards and nodded towards Harry.
"Unfortunately, when it comes to my Death Eaters our interests involving Harry differ somewhat."
Ron snorted at that causing Mrs Weasley to direct her glare at him instead.
"This is not a conversation for the breakfast table!" she started loudly.
Harry couldn't help but share a look with Ron at this. Ron, Sephronia, Hermione and Ramiron were the only people besides a certain few the Ministry who knew that the real Voldemort was attached to the back of Quirrell's head.
"Anyway," Tom continued. "It was better that we left the Malfoy's on our own accord. Anything that associates me with Death Eater isn't exactly great."
Ron snorted again.
Mr Weasley rubbed his eyes warily as if he was unsure how he'd come to have Harry and Tom sitting in his kitchen. Temmie was skirting around his plate now, glancing at Tom as if unsure how to cope with the fact the Dark Lord was sitting at their breakfast table.
Thankfully, Mr Weasley seemed more curious than anything else.
"Speaking of Lucius Malfoy?" Mr Weasley asked.
"Malfoy didn't associate himself as one of my Death Eaters," Tom said sitting back.
Harry frowned but Tom cut across him, answering Harry's unspoken question.
"We can't disprove whatever story Lucius Malfoy's comes up with," Tom said "We never saw Malfoy actually robed, we have no proof."
"Except your word," Harry said.
Tom laughed at this. "Right, the Ministry will really take my word over Malfoy's."
"So that's not true?" Mr Weasley said.
Tom flashed Mr Weasley a grin but he didn't offer more of an explanation, he didn't need to. Mrs Weasley slammed a pot down on the table causing everyone to jump.
"No discussing Death Eaters or Dark Lords at the table."
If anything the Weasley children looked mortified and even Mr Weasley looked slightly unsettled as each pair of eyes flicked across to Tom.
Tom however only smiled.
"Sorry, Mrs Weasley," Tom said.
Caedmon seemed satisfied at this as he nodded his head once. Temmie however was still skittish as she frittered around Mr Weasley's lap.
"Come on then," Mr Weasley pushed his uneaten breakfast aside. "We should leave or the auror's will be knocking down our front door."
Mrs Weasley shot him a glare at this, but this time she didn't protest, instead she crossed her arms and spoke tersely.
"Don't let them keep you long, Harry," Mrs Weasley said as she produced a a couple of old coats for them to wear. "I'll have a birthday cake waiting for you when you get back."
Mr Weasley disappeared upstairs only to reappear shortly after, now wearing an odd mixture of clothes. He had a stripped bowler hat on, with a pair of bright orange trousers.
"It's probably best we use the visitors entrance," Mr Weasley explained. "There's enough panic going on."
And so Harry found himself waving glumly at Ron and Sephronia as him and Tom followed Mr Weasley and Temmie out onto the lawn.
Travelling on muggle transport was as interesting as it had been with Hagrid and Illaria the first time. Instead of the staring eyes at the sheer size of Hagrid, Mr Weasley was having great fun examining all of the automatic ticket machines. Even Temmie was sniffing them suspiciously as Harry sorted out the tickets.
"Isn't it just fascinating?" Mr Weasley was muttering.
Tom on the other hand, wasn't having as much fun. The station was packed with muggles and he was having to cling as close to Harry possible.
Despite this, Harry still had no desire to get to the ministry quickly and weaving in and out of the crowds was almost worth not travelling by portkey or floo.
Unfortunately, it seemed like no time at all before they arrived outside a broken red telephone box. Mr Weasley promptly opened it and gestured for them both to shuffle inside.
"Umm, Mr Weasley, I don't think it works," Harry started as he squashed up against Tom.
But Mr Weasley was already picking up the broken receiver as Temmie hopped onto his shoulder.
"No no, I'm sure it works just fine," he smiled.
Mr Weasley seemed to hesitate for a moment as he chewed his tongue.
"Now, let's see here," he proceeded to dial in some numbers. "I think that's right."
It seemed to have done the trick for a bored women's voice suddenly spoke into the box.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and purpose."
Mr Weasley cleared his throat as he held the receiver. Temmie peered down into it, squeaking excitedly as he spoke awkwardly into it.
"Arthur Weasley, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, here to escort Mr Harry Potter who's been reported missing."
"Thank you," said the cool female voice. "Visitor, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes."
There was a click and a rattle.
A small square silver badge with Harry Potter, Missing on it rattled out from the coin dispenser.
Harry shoved the badge into his pocket as the female voice spoke again. Harry wasn't listening though as Tom gripped his hand tightly.
"They won't use it," Tom whispered.
Harry nodded, but there was still the thought lingering horribly in the back of his mind. His own chest was tight, uncomfortable with the knowledge that buried deep below their feet was something metal, sharp and silver.
The telephone box descended rapidly, pulling them away from the light and into the depths of London. With a clunk, the telephone box slide neatly in to place, and the glass door sprung open.
Harry found himself staring at a familiar packed auditorium. Unlike before when they had arrived with Dumbledore in first year, the place was now heaving. Witches, wizards, dæmons and a whole host of creatures Harry had never seen before were filtering around the room.
Mr Weasley straightened his muggle attire as he lead Harry and Tom through the busy auditorium. Heads turned their way, dæmons shifting automatically away from Tom, but Harry hardly noticed.
Up ahead, witches, wizards and their dæmons emerged from a long row of gilded fireplace, just like Harry and Tom had done this morning.
"I don't think travelling the muggle way was for our benefit," Tom said, nodding towards Mr Weasley.
Harry's lips twitched at this but he couldn't shake the feeling that they'd exchanged one prison for another.
By the large fountain, four auror's were waiting in their scarlet robes. Harry noticed Tonks straight away despite her hair being blonde and curly this time round.
"Hi Harry," Tonks beamed as her Jack Rabbit thumped his feet against the dark wooden floor. Harry also recognised the auror with the Lynx dæmon. Kingsley had been there when Tom had placed Harry in the guillotine.
The other two wizards Harry didn't recognise, although he didn't fancy getting closer to the sharp teeth of the wolverine dæmon.
"Thank you, Arthur," Kingsley said, as he placed a firm hand on Harry's shoulder. "We'll take Harry from here."
Mr Weasley ran his hand through his hair.
"Any chance we can get Harry back by lunch? Molly's baking him a cake."
Kingsley frowned and shook his head.
"I can't promise anything, but I'm going to say it's unlikely."
Harry slumped at this. His morning at the Weasley's had been enjoyable and it seemed apparent his day was only going to get worse.
After assuring Harry he'd hang around, Mr Weasley and Temmie were soon waving them goodbye as Kingsley steered Harry and Tom away.
Now they had the attention of nearly every witch, wizard and dæmon who passed. They all peered at Harry, eyes shooting to Tom when they thought they weren't looking.
Before they made it to the elevator, there was a flash of black smoke in Harry's face.
"Harry, Tom, how lovely to see both again."
Rita Skeeter's wide grin was beaming from behind her large spectacles. Again, her dæmon was no where to be seen but this time instead of her floating camera, a small scrawny wizard was behind her, a large camera clutched in his hands and a hummingbird hovering by his shoulder.
"Move along," Kingsley instructed but Skeeter only battered her hand, large crocodile handbag swinging from her arm.
"Harry was this another attempt by Death Eaters to rescue Tom from the control of the Ministry?" Skeeter dived in at once.
But Kingsley was already steering them away as one of the other auror's stepped straight in front of Rita Skeeter to block her access to them.
There was another flash of black smoke.
"Excuse me, sir," Tonks said, waving her wand to pull the camera expertly away from the camera man's grip. "Security and all that."
"Oi!"
But the camera had already gone up in its own puff of smoke.
Rita Skeeter leant back and she tapped her heel loudly on the floor. She gave Tonks a very deliberate smile before calling loudly for others to hear.
"We'll catch up soon, Harry. Many of my readers are desperate to here how you are getting on without your other dæmon-"
But her voice was already trailing away and Kingsley guided them towards the far end of the room.
A lift had just shifted into place and a number of people and dæmons filtered out into the auditorium.
"Clear the lift," Kingsley instructed.
The remaining witches and wizards grumbled and one old witch actually scooped up an equally old cat, and walked past them mumbling about 'auror's today'.
The lift was small and cramped and the grate which covered the door had thick golden grated laced across it. Harry froze, head spinning.
In every blink Harry could see the bars closing in around him, suffocating and cold. It was overwhelming in every sense, over powering and so horrendous that Harry couldn't breathe.
Tom moved quickly as he took both of Harry's hand in his own. He tugged Harry forwards in step with him. The grate slid across and Harry found himself staring nose to nose with Tom as his dread rocketed.
"Apparently Gryffindor haven't won the Quidditch house cup for a number of years," Tom said with a smile.
"I-What?"
But Tom wasn't waiting for him to catch up.
"I know Draco is adamant Slytherin will win this year, but if you get through try-outs, I'm sure you'll give them a run for their galleons."
Harry frowned.
"I thought you hated flying? Let alone when there are bludgers flying at your head?"
Tom shrugged with another smile as he ran his fingers lightly across Harry's palms.
"What's life without a little danger? Anyway, you're competent enough as long as you don't crash from all those crazy manoeuvres you do."
"I'm not going to crash!" Harry started, only to feel the jolt of the lift as it reached its destination.
"If you're done?" The auror with the wolverine grunted.
Harry turned to see the grates sliding open.
Tom dropped Harry's hands in an instant, eyes hollow and sad, but he didn't offer up any other conversation as he stepped past Harry to follow Kingsley and his dæmon out of the lift.
Harry hesitated, throat drying as he realised Tom's distraction. Harry followed numbly as he watched Tom walk on ahead.
Kingsley lead them down a long corridor to pass through a set of heavy oak doors. They emerged in a clustered area full of cubicles. It was certainly more welcoming than the courtroom or the holding cells deep below the Ministry, but still Harry didn't particularly like the number of red robed auror's that were mingling around.
Kingsley however lead them straight past all of that until they reached the office at the far end of the room.
A small sign was stuck on the door with the name R. Scrimgeour engraved on it.
"Good luck, Harry," Tonks winked at him before she and her other colleagues dispersed.
Harry and Tom were left standing beside Kingsley and his Lynx. She yawned and sat down on her hind legs, looking more than relaxed with her deep black eyes.
Kingsley knocked once and without waiting for an answer turned the brass handle to open the door. Kingsley stepped inside as his dæmon guided Harry and Tom forwards.
Scrimgeour was bent over his desk, head down over at least a dozen pieces of parchments as a quill scribbled furiously beside him. Above his head small paper planes spun around one after another as Nala watched. She looked tempted to pounce on them as her tail swung side to side on the desk.
"I said I was not to be disturbed under any circumstance," Scrimgeour said with a grunt. He moved his hand up suddenly and one of the small paper planes whizzed into his hand.
Scrimgeour unfolded it, read it briefly before he crumpled it into a ball. With a single flick of his wand, the quill jumped from one piece of parchment to another before it started scribbling hurriedly again.
"Fine, we'll just go then," Harry said. He made to move dodge past Kingsley, but Kingsley just rested his hand back on his shoulder again to keep him still.
Scrimgeour's head snapped up, quill stopping altogether now as it fell with a clatter onto his desk. Nala's large tabby eyes had peeled themselves off the small paper planes to fix sharply on Tom.
Scrimgeour looked less than impressed. He waved his wand causing his office door to slam shut with a bang.
"Where's Moody?" Scrimgeour said.
"Still at Malfoy Manor," Kingsley answered. "I believe he was going through Potter's belongings to see if they'd been tampered with."
Scrimgeour nodded once, before he straightened himself in his chair, as he stared at Harry.
"Start talking."
Tom opened his mouth but Nala hissed, back arching into the air as she bared her claws.
"Not you, Riddle."
Everyone's focus shifted across to Harry.
"There were Death Eaters," Harry said, crossing his arms as he glared at Scrimgeour.
Scrimgeour leaned back a cold look no his face as his quill started scribbling again.
"We're aware of that, Lucius Malfoy has given us a full brief of last nights events," Scrimgeour said which caused Tom's mouth to twitch. "What I want to know is your exact location during the night and why you only decided to show up now?"
Harry frowned as Tom opened his mouth. He promptly closed it when Nala rose, hissing and spitting in his direction. Scrimgeour only placed a hand on her head, steadying her in place.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry said.
"Where were you, Potter?" Scrimgeour said.
"We went straight to Ron's," Harry said. "It's not like we were going to hang about."
"And how did you get there?" Scrimgeour asked.
"We used the Malfoy's floo," Harry counted.
Scrimgeour rose his eyebrow at this, and now he leaned forwards, yellow eyes watching Harry very carefully.
"Funny thing is, Lucius Malfoy said he was out of floo powder and was only planning on picking more up in Diagon Alley today."
"Clearly he was mistaken," Harry said. Harry turned to Tom with a confused look on his face, they'd been the ones to be targeted so why were they on the receiving end of the hostility.
Tom was watching Nala warily, but he turned to Harry.
"He thinks we've been with Voldemort all night," Tom explained.
"Oh right," Harry rolled his eyes. "It's not like he wants me dead or anything."
Scrimgeour did not look amused at this.
"Oh, come on. We didn't know you'd send a whole search party out," Harry said. "I didn't even think Malfoy would notice us missing."
"So the Dark Lord didn't offer you anything?" Scrimgeour pressed.
"What? No?"
Although Harry's heart was thumping rapidly now, did Riddle even count as Voldemort. Tom certainly didn't. Riddle looked more like Tom anyway.
"The Dark Lord is unable to to separate you currently, but he could always use you as a spy perhaps?" Scrimgeour said.
Harry didn't even know what exactly Riddle wanted yet. He knew Riddle it was something of his own to attach to, to be bound to, but that was vague in itself, Harry didn't even know how it was possible.
"We didn't even see Voldemort," Harry lied.
Scrimgeour looked less than convinced as he drummed his fingers sharply on the desk.
"And the Death Eaters?" he questioned.
"Well there were a few dotted around," Harry said. "We didn't exactly hang around to find out."
Nala hissed again, but this time Tom spoke, voice so deadly cold.
"We had an agreement."
Scrimgeour only smirked, eyes lighting up in dark amusement.
"The Minister is easy to persuade depending on public opinion," Scrimgeour said. "I, on the other-hand, must investigate all credible options."
Tom opened his mouth to protest, but Scrimgeour interrupted.
"Your wand," Scrimgeour demanded at Harry.
Harry was suddenly very reluctant to hand it over.
Tom was visibly angry now. Harry pulled it out of his pocket and held it for Scrimgeour to take.
Scrimgeour levelled his own wand and muttered something under his breath. Harry's wand seemed to react as something thin and wispy shot from the end of it as it formed a mini floating bed.
Scrimgeour raised his eyebrow.
"A levitation charm?"
"It's a first year spell," Harry said. "Tom hasn't touched my wand."
"Go on then," Scrimgeour placed the wand back on his desk as he gestured to Harry.
Harry swiped it back and cleared his throat as Scrimgeour's quill responded to hover high above his desk. A few drops of ink dripped onto the parchment below.
Scrimgeour still didn't look impressed, although Nala seemed slightly more appeased as she watched the hovering quill with interest.
"What did you use the spell for?" Scrimgeour asked.
Harry gritted his teeth, glad that whatever curse Tom had attempted to use on Riddle had been with Draco's wand.
"You are not allowed to use magic outside of school-" Scrimgeour started.
"Now Rufus, given the gravity of the situation, circumstances must be made," a painfully familiar voice spoke.
Scrimgeour's office door had swung open and Harry found his stomach sinking. Only Dumbledore could make their already dire situation worse.
"Good, Dumbledore, you're here," Scrimgeour said. He picked up his half scribbled piece of parchment, folded it neatly into a plane with his wand before it sailed out of his office door.
"We're going back to Hogwarts, aren't we?" Tom said quietly.
Dumbledore smiled.
"I'm afraid so, we can't have you disappearing again," Dumbledore said.
"Potter's safety cannot be guaranteed," Scrimgeour added. "If the Dark Lord can break into Malfoy Manor, or if indeed Potter is tempted to go wandering-"
"Can't I go back to Ron's?" Harry interjected.
Dumbledore shook his head with a small smile.
"I'm afraid not, Harry."
"We'll arrange for Potter's school things to be sent from the Malfoy's," Scrimgeour instructed.
"I'll get Moody to collect it," Kingsley said with a nod as he beckoned his dæmon. His Lynx dutifully followed as Harry and Tom were left with Dumbledore, Scrimgeour and Nala.
Dumbledore looked happy enough as he smiled at Harry.
"A few of our teachers have permanent residence within the castle," Dumbledore said. "I've already spoken to Hagrid and he seems quite happy to keep you occupied for the time being."
"Great," Harry mumbled, thinking dejectedly about the cake Mrs Weasley was making him.
Tom looked happy enough, and Harry suspected it was because Riddle wouldn't be able to follow them to Hogwarts. Or at least Harry certainly hoped so.
If only Harry had known that when it came to his deal with Riddle, he'd never regret anything more.