Harry was walking with Ron and Hermione through the courtyard at the end of the day. It was not yet dinner time but there were no more classes to attend, which left them with a bit of homework that needed to be finished. Nothing too difficult as nearly all of their classes were still doing basic things to get them adjusted. So far, Harry liked Defense the best even if Professor Quirrell was a little strange. There were moments he stared at him too long to be considered comfortable, like he was staring at his soul. Professor Snape did the same thing, though his face was less of a blank, steady stare as it was pure disgust.
He'd yet to find out what he'd done to make the man hate him so much already.
"I'm really enjoying classes," Hermione chirped from beside him. The breeze was making her hair flow in her face, every once and a while she would place a piece of it behind her ear. "They're much more challenging than the ones at my muggle school."
"They're pretty good," Ron was reluctant to agree with Hermione Granger on anything. "Could do without potions."
Harry had to nod in agreement. He'd read all of his textbooks prior to getting to Hogwarts and had initially looked forward to potions. All that changed once he realized he'd have to deal with a professor's unfair grudge against himself for who knows what. He'd yet to figure that one out.
"It's not that bad," Hermione disagreed.
Ron suddenly stopped walking, giving her a look that clearly conveyed what he thought of her words. None of which she'd like. "Not that bad? Were you in the same class? He's the worst! Even Percy thinks he's bad."
This caught Hermione off guard and made her look very torn. Percy was someone she looked up to; they held a lot of the same opinions, which annoyed Ron greatly. "He does?" She said with uncertainty.
Ron nodded smugly.
Harry was still a ways off when he spotted Tom. He was sitting with his back resting against one of the pillars. He was not on the grass but rather the flooring. His legs were tucked underneath of him, the front of his uniform open and he appeared to be working on another assignment. Harry brightened up and cut into the conversation between his friends-still on about Snape and now Percy. "It's Tom," he told them. They looked over in the direction that he was looking in.
"You should introduce us," Hermione said with a smile. "I'd like to meet him."
Ron wasn't so sure about that. "Should we really? Err, he looks a bit busy..."
"It'll be alright," Harry decided. Ever since he went to apologize, things had shifted between them. It wasn't huge. Tom didn't purposefully seek him out but whenever Harry had the opportunity to stand beside him in the corridor or there was a way for him to wave without one of the Slytherins there to see it, the older boy acknowledged him. It was enough for Harry. For now. It was better than nothing and he was optimistic that one day Tom would be even more responsive than that.
"If you say so," Ron muttered.
Hermione was exasperated by this time, as she usually was when being in Ron's presence for more than two minutes. "You're ridiculous. This is about his house, isn't it? How many more times can we tell you that means nothing?"
Harry privately hoped Ron wasn't going to say the wrong thing in front of Tom. He didn't want the older boy to take offense and leave. "Hi Tom!" He called.
Tom slowly looked up, a strange look to his face. He looked over Harry's shoulder, eyebrows raising ever so slightly at seeing Ron and Hermione standing coming his way. It was almost...he looked like he didn't know what to do.
Harry gave a smile as he sat down in front him. It wasn't that close. He gave the older boy some space. He was aware of Tom's eyes lingering on him like they'd done on the train.
There was a long pause in between. "Hello," Tom sounded suspicious.
More silence.
Harry gestured to Ron and Hermione. "These are my friends," he said.
Hermione didn't wait for Harry to address her explicitly. She held out her hand, head held high with determination on her face. "I'm Hermione Granger," she introduced herself.
Tom didn't shake her hand. He eyed it like she was planning on electrocuting him. "Tom Riddle," he said stiffly.
Harry and Hermione swiveled their heads at Ron. Tom, too. The red-head looked down. "Er, Ron Weasley," he muttered. "You probably know my brothers: Fred and George."
By Tom's face, he did. Harry would venture to say it wasn't fondly.
"Pleasure," He said but the way he said it suggested the opposite.
"What are you working on?" Harry said casually to save the conversation from drifting off.
"Transfiguration," Tom said slowly. Did he think Harry had ulterior motives for asking? It was a simple question.
That was enough to garner Hermione's interest. "Really? What do you do learn as third years? We're trying to turn our matches into needles. I've done it on the first try. Not many have. I'm not sure why, it's not particularly difficult."
Ron grumbled about that. He'd been one of those that wasn't able to get it on the first try. Or tenth.
Tom blinked. He was trying to judge whether she was truly trying to engage in a discussion with him. Was it that much of a surprise to him? Harry didn't know whether to feel pity for him or not. "We've got harder things," he said quietly. "Teapots to tortoises, owls to opera glasses."
That information delighted Hermione. "Really? That's fascinating. What do you think of it? Is it hard for you?"
Tom wrote a few sentences before answering. "I'm pretty good." Harry remembered how Percy said Tom was smart. Wicked smart according to the Weasley twins. If that was the case, he was more than 'pretty good.' The question that came out of the older boy's mouth was accompanied by a grimace. Apparently he was not enjoying this or maybe he wasn't used to it. "How are...your classes going?"
Hermione beamed. Ron was studying Tom. "Very well! It was a bit of a shock, you know, finding out I was a witch-"
"You're a muggleborn," Tom stated, not asked.
Now Harry hoped he wasn't going to say anything offensive.
Ron sat up straighter, anticipating the same thing.
"Yes," Hermione glanced at Harry and Ron. She was clearly wondering if Tom was going to spout off the same nonsense Malfoy did.
Tom inclined his head. "Right," he said and seemed abruptly aware of the tension he'd caused. He swallowed, despite nothing being in his mouth.
Harry felt like he had to say something. He didn't think Tom meant to say it with contempt behind it. He didn't have that look Malfoy had whenever he needlessly brought up Hermione's blood status. He could just tell this was different. "We're flying tomorrow," he blurted out. All of his friends looked at him. Hermione with relief. Ron with a blank look. And Tom who looked like he was halfway between some relief of his own and confusion. Like he didn't understand what Harry was doing. "It's our first time."
"Too bad it's with the Slyherins,' Ron grumbled.
Hermione shot him a look.
Tom narrowed his eyes.
"They're going to laugh at us," Ron sulked, oblivious to Tom's reaction. "I just know it."
"Why would they?" Hermione shook her head. "They've no reason to."
Ron rolled his eyes. "They've probably been flying since they could walk."
Tom muttered something not one of them caught onto.
"What was that?" Hermione asked.
Tom cleared his throat. Harry thought he must have been stalling. "I said not all of them." Ron looked doubtful. "Some of them were probably raised in the muggle world and didn't get a chance to."
Harry nodded. He could relate to that.
"Oh," Ron was sheepish now. "Right. That's true." Then something dawned on him. "Wait, hang on. Does that mean you're-" He gestured towards Tom, who arched his brow. "You're a halfblood then?" He made the connection. "Riddle isn't a pureblood name, I don't think."
"It isn't," Tom said shortly.
Harry wondered what it was like to be in Slytherin with one half being considered dirty.
Ron held up his hands in surrender. "No need to get all shirty with me. I'm a pureblood and I don't care." Now it was Tom's turn to look doubtful. "I just don't like twats like Malfoy."
"Tom doesn't either," Harry chimed in with a grin. "Said he wouldn't tell anyone if I strangled Malfoy."
This made Ron laugh whilst Hermione put on a mildly disapproving expression. "You're supposed to be the mature one," She scolded lightly.
Tom didn't take offense to what she said. "I am," He said. "If I were immature, I would be the one doing the strangling. But I'm, as the muggles say, being the bigger person."
"Literally," Ron joked. Tom stared. "Mate-" He did appreciate the nickname. "Look at you. You make Harry look tiny!"
Harry shoved the red-head who let out more laughter at his expense. "Shut up, Ron," He said good-naturedly.
It clicked with Tom at that moment. That Ron had merely been joking. He allowed, because Harry didn't think the older boy's emotions just happened naturally, some amusement to become evident in his eyes. His mouth twitched. He fought the smile and had won.
Harry was glad to see it. Even if it was because of his supposed short-ness. "I'm five'five," he said. "M'not that short."
"I dunno, Harry," Ron grinned, "I think Hermione's taller than you."
Harry was slightly surprised. Than again, he'd never paid much attention to his height vs everyone else. Though he did know he was below most of the blokes he saw. Hermione took that as him being upset and she rushed to reassure him. "It's not by much," She said. "We're really close."
The conversation came to a lull.
Most surprising was when Tom spoke up without having to be talked to first. "So," He said which caused all three of them to look his way, "you've flying class tomorrow, you said?"
They nodded.
The older boy hummed.
"Do you remember your first time flying?" Harry asked.
He did. Harry surmised it wasn't a good memory. "Yes," Tom said darkly.
"You didn't like it?" Ron said, bewildered that such a thing could be.
"No. I prefer to keep my feet on the ground," Tom said in a clipped tone. Harry wondered if he would tell them what happened during the class that made him dislike it so much. Probably not, he reckoned.
Hermione was sympathetic. "I'm nervous," She admitted. "I'm not sure what to expect. I've been reading about it since Sunday."
Tom didn't look at them as he said, "I tried reading about it too. It doesn't help. It's not the same."
Her face fell.
"I'm sure..." Tom was uncomfortable. "I'm sure you'll be alright. Just don't look down."
She nodded so fast Harry thought her head might just fall off.
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