Chapter Four

In the morning Harry hadn't the slightest idea how on earth he found the spirit to confront Riddle. The adrenaline has worn off, and suddenly last night seemed like the craziest thing he could have ever done.

So, young Voldemort was now aware that Harry knew what he was. That he knew about Myrtle's death. The only chance of staying alive that Potter now had was if Riddle actually believed his story about the hidden memories. In any case, if the bastard did try to kill him, Dumbledore would see the memories and know the whole truth.

Harry got out of his bed, rubbing his eyes and putting on his glasses slowly, when he saw Riddle himself leave the bathroom, all fresh and handsome, every centimetre of him put perfectly together. How did he manage to look so damn good in the morning, having slept just as little as Harry?

- Good morning, - Riddle said dryly. Harry guessed he wasn't very fond of what happened last night. He watched Tom's face attentively, searching for clues on what to expect.

- Not so confident today, huh? - Riddle asked him, his cold eyes burning through Potter. Harry sighed and prepared for the interrogation, - One question, Granger. Why did you think it was best to confront me in my bed?

- What? - Harry felt his face turn red. He was expecting any question but that one.

- Why not anywhere else? Surely there are places more suitable for important discussions.

Harry sighed again.

- Just remember what you promised me, Riddle.

- You confronted Riddle in his bed? - Lucas Avery crawled out from behind his bed curtains, rubbing his eyes. It looked like he had a rough night, - Did I hear that right?

Lucas started laughing. Tom grinned.

- What did you confront him about, Granger? Your feeeelings? - he purposely stretched the last word.

- Shut up! - Harry turned away and headed for the bathroom.

- Hold up there, mate, you need to let me go before you.

Harry felt frustration flare up inside him.

- And why would I ever do that?

- So I wouldn't be late for Quidditch tryouts. You play, Harry?

- I would never play for Slytherin.

Lucas rolled his eyes and shoved Harry out of his way.

- What on earth gave you the idea I would pick you to play for my House team? So you could lose the game for us? - at that Avery slammed the door.

Harry frowned.

- He's the Slytherin Quidditch captain? - he asked Tom, who was still searching for something in his school bag.

- Granger, I promised to stop the Slytherins from picking on you, I never promised we could be friends.

He grabbed a black notebook that looked very much like the diary Harry had once destroyed, and left the dormitory.

Potter felt his stomach turn unpleasantly. Voldemort was definitely unhappy with him.

Harry walked out of the Great Hall, feverishly searching for weak spots in his strategy. Technically, he provided protection for himself by giving his memories to Dumbledore, who had sworn to interfere in case anything went wrong. If Riddle was going to attempt anything, it has to be now, until Harry could share his secrets with anyone. But would he be this angry if he had a plan? And was there actually any way to get rid of Potter without making a mess? The Tom Riddle Harry knew was very accurate in keeping his reputation pristine. He wasn't Voldemort yet.

Harry didn't notice how his legs carried him to the Quidditch field. The tryouts must have been close to an end, and he was partly hoping to at least get a glimpse of the players.

Only, of course, he just had to meet Abraxas Malfoy with his gang returning form the tribunes.

- Oh, the little filthy mudblood came out to play? - was his immediate reaction upon noticing Harry. Augustina Lestrange, who was holding Malfoy's hand, smiled at her horrible boyfriend, shrugging off Potter's death stare.

- Call Granger a mudblood again, and I'm afraid I am going to have to report this to our Head of House.

Harry turned surprised to hear Riddle's voice, who came out of the other exit from the tribunes, ignoring Potter's stare.

- Oh, is it Tom Riddle himself? - Malfoy smirked, - Bonding with your kind, I see.

- Would you like another duel arrangement, then? - Riddle asked him calmly.

It was the weirdest feeling in the world, seeing young Voldemort stick up for Harry. Was his plan actually working?

- Abraxas, would you calm down? - a boy with long black hair stepped out, also holding the hand of a girl. Something in him looked very familiar to Harry, - Do you really need problems with Slughorn? I'd have to report this too being the current Head Boy, you know.

Abraxas sighed.

- Could you ever be on my side, Orion? Must you always defend some filth instead?

Orion frowned, exchanging a glance with his girlfriend (who also looked strikingly familiar), while Augustina looked away from both Harry and Riddle. What a hypocritical bitch. Potter was seeing a lot of her around Tom when Abraxas and these other pure-bloods, like Orion, were out of sight.

Then it hit him. He looked back at the boy with the long black hair. Orion. He knew that name.

That was Sirius's father. And his mother. Walburga Black.

Harry stared at them, thunderstruck, his heart aching badly. Now that he knew who they were, they did have a lot in common with Sirius.

Orion and Walburga raised their eyebrows at the boy's reaction.

- Uh... Sorry. Gotta go.

Potter swiftly escaped the awkward scene, rubbing his chest to get rid of the ache. Technically Sirius had not been born yet. If Harry was stuck in this time for good, the least he could do was make sure Sirius and other victims of the war against Voldemort wouldn't die. Isn't this what he always dreamed of? The thought gave him hope.

He walked out on to the field blindly and nearly fell over Damian Shacklebolt.

- Wow, Harry, are you alright? - the Hufflepuff patted him on the shoulder.

- Yeah, I'm fine, - Harry shook off the image of Sirius from his head and concentrated on what was around, - What are you doing here? It's the Slytherin team's tryouts.

Something wicked shone in Damian's eyes.

- And that's exactly why I'm here. Plus, we're next on the field.

Shacklebolt pointed at his broom.

Harry smirked and looked away from him to the players in the air. It looked like Avery had the last group of would-be Team Slytherins trying to catch the golden snitch.

- A pitiful sight, - Damian laughed, - None of them are nearly as good as me.

Potter couldn't say anything to that, but he did see that only one of the players in the air had potential - a small, but quick copper-haired boy. His neighbour, actually, Eduard Rosier.

- Yeah, he'll be easy to beat, done that lots of times before - Shacklebolt said noticing the direction Harry was looking in, - No competition here. No competition in all of Hogwarts.

Damian yawned. Harry suddenly felt put off by his words. He took a look at Shacklebolt's broom again.

- You know what, Damian? Give me your broom.

The Hufflepuff's grin widened.

- Gonna put me in my place?

- You betcha.

Harry threw off his school robe and snatched the broom, rising swiftly into the air. Not his Firebolt, not even Nimbus Two Thousand, but will do for now. Potter leaned to the tip of the broom, gaining speed quickly and, ducking the other players, cleared his path to Eduard, who was after the snitch. Harry decided to come from the opposite direction, which wouldn't leave much space for manoeuvres to Rosier if he didn't have enough talent.

The snitch was darting away from Eduard, who was focusing all his attention on it, until he finally saw Harry flying right at him and screamed. Harry pressed on, ignoring him, only stopping with a jerk when he felt the small winged golden ball in his bare palm and euphoria in his heart. He missed this. His last year in Hogwarts didn't have a lot of quidditch due to one swell Umbridge gal.

- What do you think you're doing, Granger?! - yelled Rosier.

- Catching the snitch since you can't, obviously, - Potter answered calmly, then turned his broom, flew up to a struck-looking Avery, passed him the snitch and started back to a laughing Shacklebolt.

- What are you laughing at now, - Harry rolled his eyes as he landed and got off the broom.

- Rosier's face of course! He'll hate you forever, - Damian grinned, - You should join the team. It'll be interesting to beat you.

Harry sighed. He would have loved to play for Gryffindor, but Slytherin...

- Play for those who despise me? I've got better ideas about what to do with my time.

Harry hesitantly returned the broom to the Hufflepuff and put his robe back on. It was hard having to purposely give up his chance at doing what he loved most.

- See you later, Damian.

- Later, Harry.

The boy turned and started away from the field when suddenly he heard footsteps behind him.

- Granger! - he turned around to see Lucas running towards him, looking very serious, - We practice on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. I'll get you your broom and uniform.

Harry couldn't believe what he heard.

- But...

- No buts, Granger! I need you on the fucking team or I swear I will curse you to death!

Avery turned around and ran back to the field.

Well... I guess quidditch could help take some of the steam off, even if he had to play for Slytherin. He couldn't be duelling Malfoy every week.

Harry caught himself smiling.

- He was amazing. He was brilliant. You should have seen him in the air.

It was lunch, and Lucas couldn't stay on a different topic for more than two minutes, always returning to Harry Granger.

- I'm hungry and exhausted, very high on emotions, so I'll just say it once - I think we could win the Quidditch Cup this year, - he continued.

Rosier looked furious. He was Slytherin's seeker since his second year, but Avery's assignment as the new Quidditch captain and his decision to hold tryouts brought Eduard great misfortune.

- So, I left early, didn't I? - Riddle asked rhetorically.

- You missed the best part. And I'm not letting anyone see Harry fly until the match with Gryffindor, so it's too late. He's our secret weapon now.

Secret weapon. Looks like Granger had a lot of those.

- While we're at the topic of Granger, - Tom spoke in a lazy manner, - I would like you all to leave him alone. Don't tease him, don't threaten him, don't bully him in any way.

Rosier raised his angry eyes at Riddle.

- Why are you of all people suddenly sticking up for him?! - he blurted out.

Tom sighed. He never let his roommates speak to him in such a manner. Nevertheless, he decided to let this one pass, as he had more important points to make.

- Because enough is enough. Let the boy live. Otherwise he'll fail his studies, which will land me with tutoring him, and I don't have time for that, - he added some coldness to his voice, watching with satisfaction how Rosier's face gradually ran out of colour.

- Yeah, leave him alone, Ed, - Avery was pointing his finger at Rosier, - Or I'll bludger your brains out.

Eduard rose from his seat.

- Luke, you were my teammate since the second year at Hogwarts. Do you realize this is betrayal?

Avery slammed his goblet on the table.

- I gave you a place on the team! You're keeper now, what's wrong with that?!

Rosier shook his head in disbelief and left the Great Hall looking lost and betrayed. Well, he should have practised more if he wanted to keep the seeker place in the team for himself. Tom had long learned it all came to simple things: study, practice, train more and let no one question that you are the best.

- Spread the word for me, will you? - Tom looked at Avery and Lestrange, - Let no one bully Granger.

- Of course, - answered Frederic, while Lucas simply nodded in agreement.

Riddle stood up and made his way to the library to complete his homework for next week.

Last night wouldn't leave his mind. Again and again he replayed in his head everything Granger had told him.

"I know you're the Heir of Slytherin". Tom felt a rush of goosebumps on his skin. It was a new intoxicating feeling - the fact that someone knew who he really was. Sure, he was extremely angry with Granger threatening him, but on the other hand... He didn't need to hide who he was in front of him now. He could be the Heir of Slytherin around this boy.

But how did Granger know? How was this even possible? Tom made sure he didn't leave any evidence of his deeds.

Riddle turned into an empty hallway and was met by a concerned looking Tina. She silently took his hand and pulled him into an empty classroom, locking the door.

- Tom, what is this all about? - she pushed his back to the door and stepped up close, eyes fixed on him, - Why are you protecting the mudblood boy?

Riddle was getting tired of everyone focusing on Granger's blood status. That boy was proving to be a lot more than just a common mudblood.

- You must remember I'm a prefect, Tina. Part of my job is to make sure no one is bullied.

She rolled her eyes.

- You had your fun with him, it's time to stop, - Tom added.

Augustina pushed him harder into the door.

- No, it's not fun. It's not fun at all. Since the school year started, you didn't come over once.

She paused, focusing suddenly on his neck.

- What's this nasty scratch? - Tina raised her eyebrow in suspicion.

Riddle felt the skin of his neck, remembering Harry's wand scraping him when he disarmed him.

- No idea, - he finally said with a sigh.

Tina let it pass and continued where she left off.

- Now Abraxas is getting on my nerves. He's obsessed with the boy. Everyone is talking about this Granger, and now you are protecting him. I can't stand that mudblood, I want him gone!

She even stomped her little foot. Tom smiled at her.

- You don't mind me though, do you, - he said quietly.

Lestrange's face softened. She traced Riddle's jawline with her finger and softly touched his lips.

- No. No, you're the best.

He grabbed her by the waist, her long platinum strands of hair tickling the knuckles of his fingers.

- Say that again.

Tina's full lips cracked a wicked smile.

- You are a fucking god, Tom Riddle.

- Yes, I am.

Harry entered the library in hope of actually doing some homework. He picked up the books he needed and was finishing his second essay when someone sat at the opposite side of the table. Not just someone. Baby Voldemort, of course.

- Granger, did everyone leave you alone? - he asked in an exhausted voice.

Harry studied his face with curiosity. Something was off. He noticed it then: Riddle's lower lip was swollen.

- Did someone punch you in the face? - Harry just couldn't help it. After seeing Riddle protect him, a part of his blunt bravery returned. If he was going to be stuck with his mortal enemy and balance on the verge of death and an almost certain prospect of never seeing his friends again, he desperately needed at least a pinch of humour in it, - Did you have to fight like a muggle for my precious reputation?

Tom glared at him.

- Are you testing my patience, Granger? Because I don't have much left.

- So is it some terrible flu then?

Riddle frowned, confused.

- Your lip.

- Oh, that, - Tom felt his lip with his finger, - No, that's just a bite. So, did they leave you alone or not?

Harry blinked, processing what he had just heard.

- Uh.., well, it's definitely better today.

- Let me know if someone disobeys.

Riddle stood up and left the section, keeping his perfect posture, leaving a trail of questions behind.

A bite. On the lip. Who was biting Riddle? Suddenly Harry felt very curious. Was this some sort of kinky relationship Voldemort had?

Harry felt his face grow hot.

No, Riddle's relationships didn't concern him. He needed to get back to his essay NOW.

Harry started riffling through his textbook, trying to focus on his assignments, but the image of Tom's handsome face with his bitten lip lingered in Potter's mind. He suddenly felt angry.

This was out of line, and not just for one reason. First of all, Riddle was the future horror of wizards and muggles alike, he didn't get to have normal (or even relatively normal) human relationships! Sure he was playing the role of the perfect student with a crisp-white reputation, but not to the point of teenage drama!

Next, why wasn't Riddle interrogating Harry about how he could have known his secrets? How was going and having his lips bitten more important than this?!

Besides, Harry was so used to being the central figure in Voldemort's life, that this discovery made him feel... left out? Less important to him?

Harry shook his head in disbelief. These were entirely crazy thoughts that probably appeared in his head because of all the stress.

He focused on his homework again, hitting himself on the forehead each time he got distracted by unwanted Riddle thoughts.

- So, Harry, did you make the team? - Harry heard Damian's throaty voice beside him. He turned to face the Hufflepuff grinning at him.

Potter smiled, grateful for the respite.

- Yes. I'll meet you on the field after we destroy Gryffindor. To destroy you, of course.

- How violent, - Shacklebolt laughed, - Have you seen at least Gryffindor's seeker?

Harry frowned.

- No, not really.

- It's Septimus Weasley. He's not as bad as Rosier, you know.

The boy's heart skipped a beat upon hearing his best friend's family name.

It was Sunday, and although it was late in the morning, the weather was chilly. Riddle was making his way to the Clock Tower Courtyard, anxious to see Granger and Malfoy's duel. It wasn't often that he got a chance to see something entertaining in Hogwarts, so he decided to make the most pleasure out of it. Tom grabbed a mug of hot cocoa from the Great Hall and picked a place with the best view in the Courtyard, resting his back against a column.

Abraxas was the first to come, followed closely by his cronies.

- So where's the mudblood? - he asked, eyeing Riddle attentively, naming Granger that on purpose.

- Abraxas, we've been through this.

Orion stepped from behind a near column, looking very displeased.

- With Grindelwald grouping his forces and approaching closer and closer to us, it is not the place or time to underline the new boy's blood status, - he continued and then turned to Riddle, - Tom, this boy is in your year. Are you sure you want this duel to continue?

Riddle appreciated that Orion asked for his opinion, even though he was older, an heir of a noble house and the current Head Boy. He would be a valued Death Eater if only Tom could persuade him.

- Yes, I am sure. Granger wants it as much as he does.

- Alright.

Orion came up to Tom and took a place next to him. A flash of copper hair appeared on Riddle's other side - it was Rosier. Lucas was standing across the Courtyard from Tom, his arms folded in disapproval - he didn't want to have his precious seeker hurt just before tomorrow's Quidditch practice. A herd of girls was forming at one of the entrances with Augustina and Walburga standing side by side. It looked like everyone was gathering for the big fight. Riddle only hoped the teachers didn't hear the duel news.

- Orion, did you put your famous wards up to keep all unwanted attention away? - Riddle asked him.

- Of course, - Black answered raising his eyebrow.

Abraxas was pacing the Courtyard looking very frustrated.

- Where's your Granger kid? - he barked at Tom, - He's late!

Riddle shrugged. He was wondering the same thing. Then the crowd at the far entrance to the Courtyard started whispering excitedly.

- Oh, I'm not late, - a voice came from it, - I'm right on time.

The students stepped to the sides letting him pass. Granger took off his robe and threw it to the Hufflepuff's seeker, who for Merlin knows what reason came with him. The Hufflepuff was smiling at the boy broadly and cheering him on. Tom frowned. What was this? Sudden friendship?

Harry took a place opposite from Malfoy, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt. He then focused on Abraxas's face, making a quick bow with his head and watching with satisfaction how his opponent had to bow in answer. Malfoy's face looked like he chewed up a lemon. Tom couldn't help grinning.

The duelers raised their wands and took a few steps back from each other.

- Do me a favour, Granger, and please don't start crying.

- I'm on the verge of crying from joy 'cause you learned other words besides "filthy" and "mudblood".

Abraxas cursed under his breath and sent a non-verbal stinging spell, that Granger successfully blocked. Alright, then. He could block and he was fast. Tom remembered that from their first meeting. Now he saw that Granger could also move like a trained dueler.

Malfoy attacked again, only to be blocked once more. Another attack - another block. Harry was not using non-verbals, he was just screaming "Protego" over and over again, but he was very agile, and his wand movement was perfect. Way better then Abraxas's angry swings, although the latter didn't seem to notice.

- Is that the only spell you know, Granger? - Abraxas laughed, and the general part of the crowd sniggered in support.

Abraxas then conjured three snakes, one after the other, to get Harry distracted and break through his shield. Granger ignored the snakes completely, focusing on his defence. When the serpents were near enough he turned to them and hissed.

- Attack your maker from the back and the sides.

Riddle nearly choked on his cocoa. The boy spoke parseltongue? Tom watched in awe as the snakes turned back to a shocked Malfoy, hissing and raising their heads for the attack.

- Stupefy! - Harry screamed, but Abraxas managed to jump away, the spell hitting one of Malfoy's cronies instead. The crowd started slowly moving away after that, leaving only Tom, Orion and Shacklebolt close to the duelers.

- Incendio! - Abraxas let out fire from his wand, burning the snakes and turning the force on Granger. The duel was getting serious.

- Aqua Eructo! - Granger let out a strong stream of water, putting off the fire and knocking Malfoy off his feet. His opponent fell to the ground, choking on water that got up his nose.

- Expelliarmus! - Harry tried.

- Protego! Avis! - Malfoy was still maintaining control, despite the water dripping off his hair and clothes. A flock of birds erupted from his wand, aiming at Granger.

- Depulso! - Harry screamed, sending the birds away from him and right after that he added, -Expulso!

Malfoy was hit back to the wall with a strong blast of blue light. He was losing. He was losing to a mudblood and a boy younger than him. Tom could hardly contain how happy he was to witness this.

- Expelliarmus! - Granger tried again, only to be blocked. Malfoy's face was twisted with anger.

- Crucio! - he screamed.

Riddle couldn't believe his ears. He reached for his wand, preparing to interfere. The spell hit Harry. He fell down on one knee, shaking, but not making any sound. Either Malfoy was not strong enough to cast the Cruciatus Curse, or Granger was good with fighting it back.

And then something unbelievable happened. Malfoy was cringing, trying to focus on holding the curse, gripping his wand with both hands, but Harry got back up on both legs and slowly raised his shaking wand hand back into the duelling position.

- Expecto Patronum! - he screamed through gritted teeth.

A white luminous stag erupted from his wand, galloping at Abraxas. He dropped the Cruciatus Curse, shocked to see the animal, which stood back raising its front legs and hitting Malfoy on the head with its hoof.

Abraxas was knocked out. The stag returned to its owner, bowing its head. Granger smiled at it and gave it a pat, and then the animal disappeared.

Author's note.

This is the longest chapter yet, and it has a lot of filler information. I can't say I'm in awe of it, so I really hope you still like it (: My Editor was quite happy with it though, as we both know what's coming. But to important moments: we're back with a Quidditch playing Harry, we've seen the ghosts of his past, we've got the duel finally, something I was most worried about.

Next chapter is also done-ish, so hopefully my Editor and I can work it through quicker than this one (:

Biggest thanks to all of the reviews and followers, you're awesome! And always - thank you to my Editor, who finds the time and the patience to work with me 3 If you want to know how I'm doing with my writing and other things - I have a Tumblr blog you can check out. No one follows it yet, so see for yourself :D My nick there is shehonessky.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.