Slowly but surely, the two dark haired boys grew used to life at Hogwarts. They had their group, they were polite to teachers, were diligent students. Harry truthfully less so regarding schoolwork. He was never one for academics, and would rather go explore the labyrinth of a castle they called a school. But Tom would insist every evening they sit down and do their homework, and by then they weren't allowed out of their dorm rooms.
When Tom went to the library, Harry would be right there next to him. While Tom read about the wizarding world and all things magic, Harry would be right there next to him. While Tom read about the wizarding world and all things magic, Harry would be looking up spells. With a concentration on all the various ways a wizard such as himself could be all things sneaky and undetectable. It was all well and good to be with Tom, but Harry felt that they were missing out on a grand opportunity. So if Tom would not go exploring with him, Harry would do it on his own.
"I'm going to go get the next volume. Don't go anywhere," Tom ordered as he silently pushed back his chair and stood.
"Alright," Harry responded, idly, turning a page onto a rather complicated potion for turning into another person. Not quite what he was looking for.
Harry couldn't tell how much time had passed, but he lifted his head up when he heard a soft female voice. The girl had golden brown hair kept in a pixie cut. She was about Harry's height, and had a soft, gentle air to her. Like she wouldn't ever be able to so much as glare at the worst humanity had to offer. This was only accentuated by her round brown eyes.
"I'm sorry, but do you mind if I sit here?" Without thinking, Harry responded.
"Um... no, go ahead..." She smiled and quietly settled into the chair by Harry's side.
"Thank you. I was worried I'd have to go sit with one of the older students. What's your name?"
"Harry Potter." The girl giggled, and set a book on the table. Harry's eyes glanced down to the Hufflepuff crest sewn on her robes.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Goldie McCarthy."
"Goldie?" The girl blushed at the bright eyed boy's incredulous tone, and looked down at her book, pale blond lashes flickering.
"My parents are a bit eccentric..."
"Oh. I-um, see. It suits you at least."
"You think so? People tend to comment on it a lot."
"Do you not like being named Goldie?"
"What? Oh, no, I could never hate it. It just sounds like a silly character from a book. The kind that is having a secret affair with some rich old man. The kind with lots of nasty rumors running through people's mouths."
"What on Earth do you read...?" Harry honestly was curious, especially since he could hardly believe such a sweet girl would even think of such things.
"Murder mysteries really. I particularly enjoy Sherlock Holmes." Harry paused, a small, kindly teasing smile on his face."
"You're not a pureblood then, if you know about Sherlock Holmes." She blinked innocently, her tone matter-of-fact as she gazed at him.
"Why no, I'm not. But why should it matter if my parents have magic or not?"
"Because I'm Slytherin," Harry stated with his tone mirroring Goldie's.
"You may be a Slytherin, Mr. Potter, but you know about Sherlock just as I do."
As the messy haired boy stared dumbfounded, she focused on her book and opened it to a dog-eared page. Finally, Harry snapped out of his shock and spoke.
"Well, you're clever." She glanced at him from the corner of her big brown eyes and gave him a smile that made the corners of her mouth crinkle up.
"So I've been told," she retorted.
"And what, exactly, is she so clever for, Harry?" Before Harry could respond, Tom's voice had cut into the conversation. The bright eyed boy turned around in his seat to see his ever watchful companion leaning against a bookshelf with his arms crossed. His pointer finger tapping on the book held in his hand, his eyes never moved from Harry.
"She... um..." It was then that the boy with the lightning shaped scar remembered that Tom didn't like it when Harry talked to other people. Was he getting so used to life outside the orphanage already that he forgot? People other than Tom we're dangerous. It didn't matter whether or not they had magic.
"Don't bother, I can make a wild guess," Tom probably would have spoken crossly had they been in private. To think Tom was jealous would be assuming, and to Harry's knowledge incorrect. It wasn't jealousy towards Goldie for talking to Harry. It was closer to a two year old seeing someone holding their toy and snatching it back. But unlike a two year old, Tom had self-control. An impeccable amount, even.
Tom smiled charmingly as he finally looked over at Goldie and walked up to her. Harry noticed a slight blush on the girl's cheeks as Tom bowed slightly.
"Hello, Miss. I hope Harry wasn't bothering you too much. He can be a bit of an awkward talker at times."
"What? Tom!" Harry cried out, indignant and bewildered as to why Tom would say such a thing. Usually he would be next to Harry quietly shooing others away.
"Not now, Harry." Not ignoring him. Tom shouldn't be ignoring him.
"O-oh, no," Goldie stuttered out, holding up a hand, we just had a regular old conversation about silly things..."
"Hm, you don't say. Could I join you, Miss...?"
Harry just stared at Tom as he smiled and chatted idly with Goldie, sliding into a seat next to her. Not next to him.
What was going on? It couldn't be that Tom was interested in her... could it?
"Goldie" didn't interest Tom in the least. But girls were dangerous. Dangerous to Tom's control over Harry, at least. He could see it when the wild maned boy talked to other people. He wasn't nervous or unwilling like he was when Tom was around. In fact, he quite easily lapsed into the flow of a person's interest. He'd smile and respond and was endearing. He didn't need Tom.
He wasn't broken.
AN: My apologizes must have gotten tiresome by now, so instead I'll leave it implied and properly explain myself for the first time.
I've been dealing with several personal things over the course of the year. One of which was coming to terms with the fact that my dog was aging. I've had her since I was four and she a puppy, and she had reached the age of 14. Her name was Goldie, and she was absolutely the sweetest, most gentle dog in the world. Sadly, we had to euthanize her on Friday. It's taken a toll on my entire family.
By now you should have made the connection about this new character, "Goldie McCarthy," and my pet. Think of it as my attempt at coping. But because of that connection, I can't bear to write anything bad concerning her, so the character won't play a major role. But I do need to address that because of the lack of characters in this time period, I will be making my own. Not to worry though, all cannon wizards, witches, and a few muggles will eventually make an appearance. I just want to put more meat on the story.
Thank you very much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this sadly short update. Reviews are as always appreciated. I've felt extremely lacking in my writing lately, so if anyone has any constructive criticism I hope to write a longer chapter next time.
