Yet another warning: Rating - M

Chapter Six

Tina screamed his name and jerked, squeezing Tom's head between her thighs. He finished her off and pulled himself up, pressing his body into hers, feeling the hot skin on her neck with his lips.

It was their fifth night together in a month. Probably a record. It was always convenient that the Slytherin sixth year had only three girls, but Riddle still wondered how Augustina managed to set this up, making sure her two roommates were away when needed. She was a true Slytherin queen indeed. As for Tom, he was feeling surprisingly needy lately, even going so far as to choose nights with Lestrange over music rehearsals.

- Let me in, - he whispered into her neck.

- No, Tom, I can't, - Augustina whined.

- I know you want this.

- I do, but I must stay a virgin for Abraxas, may he be damned!

Tom growled. Malfoy was the last person he wanted to hear about right now. All he wanted was release.

He got up from the bed and began undoing his belt.

- Alright. Then it's your turn.

Tina grinned and sat on the bed.

- I'll take it from here, - she said, tugging at his belt.

Riddle gripped the bed posts with his hands, watching Lestrange do her job. Finally, Tom felt the heat of her mouth around him and let out a low moan, closing his eyes and giving in to the feeling he longed for.

It was hard, this past month. He couldn't shut down his brain even during sleep hours - all he could think about was the mysterious and dangerous Harry Granger and his knowledge of Tom. Who on earth was he? The lack of information was a constant itch in his brain, and all he could do was observe Harry from a distance. After their conversation in the Chamber of Secrets, that Tom had very high expectations towards, but that ended on a bitter note, they both avoided each other.

He opened up to Harry, and it felt very intoxicating. He never did that with anyone before, because he could never trust anyone with his secrets. Granger, however, knew what he was, and now Tom wanted him to know every bit of it. Despite all the anxiety he felt about the truth bursting out, despite his consciousness screaming inside of him, demanding he erased all connections to his murders, instead he wanted to fill Harry up to the edge. Unfortunately, all this boy did was judge, give him lip and dodge any questions that actually mattered to Riddle. Who were his parents? Who murdered them? Who is his foster family? What is Dumbledore's role in all this and how much does the man know? How did Harry know all those things about Tom? He didn't leave any witnesses; no one could have guessed it was him who opened the Chamber. And it wasn't like Granger was guessing - he threw it all out in his face, so deeply convinced he is right. It's like he had looked into Riddle's future, only no one could predict things as clearly as that. Or, take time travel, for instance. It was already more than a month, and Granger was still around – and there was no way anyone could have pulled this off with a time-turner. It was not possible. Tom checked. Thoroughly. He checked every theory he had, spent days in the library and even went as far as to discuss it with Slughorn, who was extremely happy they weren't talking about Horcruxes again, but was useless in this specific matter.

There was no way Harry could have known the truth, and yet he did.

Riddle tried to focus on Tina, but his mind kept drifting back to Harry.

Something that also made Riddle feel overly excited was the boy being a parselmouth. A gift he said was granted to him by a dark wizard. There was no question that Tom was related to this man, and that was the only connection in Granger's story that Riddle had. He thought about researching Harry's true identity, his real parents' name, only he had no idea where to start.

This train of thought was the exact thing Tom wanted out of his head when he came to this place. This, and the hunger inside of him, craving to be sated.

He placed one hand on the back of Tina's head, setting the tempo he needed.

"I know you're the Heir of Slytherin" - Harry's words emerged from the back of his mind, and he felt his stomach leap in excitement, making him let out another moan. Someone knows. Someone knows who he really is.

Riddle went out of his way to protect Granger from Malfoy that Sunday. He left the Chamber and went straight to the Hospital Wing, where he met a furious looking Tina standing next to a curtained bed in a completely empty room. Because Malfoys don't lie next to plain folk.

He took Lestrange's hand and moved her away from that bed, so they wouldn't be overheard.

- That Granger kid, I swear I'm going to kill him! - she whispered.

- What about your fiancé? Using the Cruciatus Curse in the light of day.

- And losing after! What a humiliation! I can't believe this is the man I have to marry!

He gently squeezed her shoulder.

- Calm down. I will make sure this doesn't get out. Is Malfoy awake?

Augustina sighed and rubbed her temples.

- Yes, awake and giving orders already, I can't stand him.

- Did he speak to any of his toadies?

- No, I told them all to piss off. Can't stand them even more.

- Good. Let me talk with him alone.

She raised her eyebrows in question.

- Trust me, - he pressed his words in with a quick kiss, making sure no one sees it, - And I'll visit you tonight if you'll have me.

Tina rolled her eyes.

- I'll think about it, - she stepped away, - Go ahead, then.

Riddle straightened out and went to the bed, pulling the curtains away, his wand at the ready.

Abraxas was spread on at least five pillows, a silver dish piled with fruit balancing in his lap. He was holding a book in French in a lazy manner. What an elitist bastard. Malfoy raised his head, ready to say something arrogant, and finally noticed who it was.

- You! - was the first thing Abraxas spat out.

- Imperio, - Tom whispered.

The loathing left Malfoy's eyes in an instant. What a satisfying feeling it was to use an Unforgivable - he understood the bastard in that. Tom concentrated on his task.

"You are greatly humiliated by what happened today during the duel and will not let anyone speak of it. You will not plan any revenge on Harry Granger and will not let anyone take revenge for you. You will stop bullying Harry Granger and will not encourage anyone else to it".

Riddle put his wand down. Abraxas's eyes cleared.

- You! - he spat again.

- How are you feeling, my friend? That stag Patronus Granger had cast must have hurt.

- Shut up! - Malfoy barked, - If I hear you discussing this with anyone...

- Don't worry, I won't, - the Imperius Curse clearly worked, - Get well soon.

Tom grinned at Abraxas's pinched face, turned on his heels and left the room, giving Tina a wink. She looked confused.

He looked at her face now, in her dormitory, doing such a fine job of pleasing him. Would he be doing this if she wasn't Malfoy's fiancé? Or would the lack of risk and chance of taking something from that stuck-up snob bore him, and he would grow tired of her eventually? She was a gorgeous girl, smart and talented in magic, charismatic and fun, but still so different from him, a total stranger. She hadn't the slightest idea about who Tom really was.

"... you are the Heir of Slytherin" Harry's words emerged again, arousing him even more.

- Yes.., yes, I am...

He felt himself throbbing under Tina's lips, gripped the bed posts harder and came.

Harry was confused. The world of nineteen forty-three was completely unpredictable for him. His duel with Malfoy seemed like such a big deal to the school, but somehow no consequences followed. Potter did remember Tom Riddle saying he will take care of this, but it couldn't have been in his power to stop the gossip. It just couldn't, there were too many people. Or was this Orion's doing? It's like they were living in a military junta and not in a school filled with kids.

If this was the premise on which Voldemort came to power, then it was no surprise. This and one other major factor.

After Riddle reminded Harry of what was going on in the big world during nineteen forty-three, Potter started reading the Daily Prophet - a move Hermione would have surely approved of. He learned a great deal from it - things that were hushed up in Harry's time. And it wasn't surprising, too. It's not like the truth was written in plain black-on-white text, but you could read between the lines and get the general idea just the same. Just like how newspapers tried to hide the return of Voldemort back in Harry's time. And that secret - the current secret, - was that muggles were dangerous - probably even more dangerous than during the infamous witch hunts. Just what Gellert Grindewald had in his visions.

"The Ministry of Magic strongly recommends to keep out of London proper and other public muggle places, as well as refrain from any interaction with muggles anywhere, whether in disguise or not. The recommended course would be to travel through the Floo Network, as stated by the new ministerial amendment to Section 214 of Interactions with Muggles Code."

Or -

"Cornelius Malfoy, the special adviser for Minister, is pushing through a bill, according to which all muggle-born wizards should wipe the memories of their muggle relatives of any information about the wizarding world to avoid any leaks to muggle domestic or foreign intelligence services, the interference of which had escalated drastically",

And then –

"Three ancient wizarding villages, Dunmire, Merlinton and Grebe House, were evacuated due to manoeuvres of muggle troops".

Harry had a nasty feeling about all these articles, so he decided to ask Dumbledore's opinion on the matter during one of their regular "tea parties", as the professor would call them. Meetings with Dumbledore would at the same time fill Harry in on the man's progress in solving Potter's "time travel situation" and let Dumbledore gently pry Harry about whether he was breaking any time travel rules.

- Professor...

- Yes, Harry?

Dumbledore cast his famous half-moon spectacle gaze at the boy.

- I've been reading the Daily Prophet and noticed some information that had me rather worried. All these articles about safety measures from muggles... There must be something important behind it all.

The Professor smiled at Potter.

- You are not the only one concerned, Harry, - he took a sip from his cup, - Have you heard of the procedure that takes place each time there is a new muggle Prime Minister appointed?

Harry frowned.

- Do you mean the moment the Minister for Magic pays him a visit?

- Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Now, what I am about to tell you is very confidential information. Can I trust you with such a secret, Harry?

- Of course, Professor.

Dumbledore smiled again and continued.

- Three years ago a man named Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. I am sure you have heard of him.

Harry nodded.

- The current Minister for Magic, Leonard Spencer-Moon, my good friend, made his appearance in his office and had the most interesting discussion with the new head of office. Mr. Churchill was not the least surprised to discover there were wizards in Britain. In fact, he looked as if it was old news to him. That was the exact moment the ministry should have reacted with extra caution, if you ask me.

Dumbledore paused examining a moving map of Scotland hanging on the wall.

- However, he and our Minister had a very productive relationship and complete understanding. Until things have started to drastically change for Britain, of course.

The Professor frowned, lost in his thought.

- Sir, do you mean the war? The muggle war - World War Two?

- That's how muggles call it, is it? What an interesting choice of words. It's true, of course - this war has reached every corner of the world. More tea, Harry?

- Yes, please.

The boy's tea cup filled up again with a flick of Dumbledore's wand.

- As soon as the war started posing a real threat to muggle Britain, Mr. Churchill demanded help from Mr. Spencer-Moon. I'm sure you understand it was not the first time a muggle Prime Minister had asked for help. But alas - the wizard law is very specific when it states that under no circumstances must wizards interfere in muggle conflicts. Besides, the wizarding world is facing another threat from...

- Gellert Grindewald, - Harry interfered, remembering that Dumbledore would be exactly the man to stop the current Dark revolutionary.

For a second Harry thought he saw a glimpse of pain on Dumbledore's face. The Professor took another sip.

- Yes, Harry, you are exactly right. Mr. Churchill, however, hadn't a care in the world about what was happening with us, and I understand him very much in that. The threat that towers over the entire muggle world is... tremendous. Unfortunately, there is very little we can do without violating the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and facing even a bigger threat for our world - a threat of total extinction. Therefore, our Minister refused to help, but that of course did not stop Mr. Churchill. In his ardour to protect muggle Britain, no measure was too extreme for him.

Harry frowned.

- What kind of measures were those?

- It turned out he had a network of spies specializing in wizards who kept an eye on all prominent wizarding families. As soon as my friend Leonard refused to help, five wizard children - all heirs of noble houses - had disappeared.

- What?! - Harry couldn't believe his ears.

- Harry, I must remind you once again not to discuss this subject outside the door of my office. It is very sensitive. For years, wizards have been regretting they haven't believed Grindewald's warning about the destruction muggles could cause. They were convinced the Ministry of Magic would protect them, but the Ministry had failed them. A war with weapons of mass destruction and attacks on wizards...The Aurors were allowed to take the heirs of noble houses back to their homes, in return for the help they offered muggles. The Ministry retaliated – hastily, drastically - many obliviation spells were performed until Churchill's grip on the throat of our Ministry was... not gone, but bearable. The wounds we sustained are still painfully fresh, made worse still by the immense pride of our pure-blood houses. One of the captured heirs, and the oldest of them, was your duel opponent - Abraxas Malfoy, fourteen at the time.

So, Dumbledore knows about the duel. Harry felt his cheeks flare up. The professor, however, continued without noticing Potter's blush.

- And the worst thing is that muggles still pose a palpable threat to wizardkind. All the effort and creativeness they are putting into inventing the ever-increasing number of means to kill each other... Grindewald's views, I'm afraid to say, not only haven't lost support, but gained it instead. And the Ministry of Magic is doing everything it can to suppress this, stepping ever harder on pure-blood pride.

They sat in silence, save for the sound of Dumbledore's magical apparatus ticking and clicking. Harry wanted to say something to cheer up the man who was yet to face the current Dark Lord and then, some years later, meet someone even worse. Someone powerful enough to return from the dead.

But what if that someone didn't have to appear? Ever since he and Tom had their talk in the Chamber of Secrets, Harry couldn't help but think that there was still a chance for his soul. That not everything was lost. Even with the death of Myrtle, even with the murder of Riddle's own relatives. Did he really kill Myrtle on purpose? Before that terrible day, the worst thing Tom had done was petrification, and even this was only tropes to his "Heir of Slytherin" ego trip. And to think of it, his obsession with his ancestor was not even that overblown, if you consider the setting: pure-blood supremacy was all the rage, your House name having more value than your actual talents and knowledge.

As for his relatives... Well, being rejected by his own family in wartime after having grown up in an orphanage... That could put anyone over the edge. It was still abhorrent in every way, but Potter could understand Tom. At last. Riddle did not seem as pure evil anymore.

It felt like a breath of fresh air. A very short breath, as if he finally broke surface while drowning. Just for a second, just to realize air still existed.

An abandoned child brought up without love, abused by the orphanage's matrons, envied by proud pure-bloods, turned down by his father. Nameless to himself, betrayed, neglected and damaged. He created a new name for the whole world to tremble before, shunning his father's blood, ripping all ties with the sort of people that stained his claim to be Slytherin's heir. He rose to power on the broken back of pure-blood pride – a crippled thing, in turns stomped upon by muggles and fueled by Grindewald's teachings.

The muggle war and wizard oppression formed fertile ground for future Death Eaters and other supporters waiting for someone to reap their eager hatred. And Voldemort came and took what was reaching out towards him.

Harry really wanted to ask Tom about his thoughts on the subject, see how far his views have developed. Riddle, however, started ignoring him ever since their heated Chamber talk, and now Potter felt awkward. And angry. And sad, and yet hopeful that he might still change Tom and the future, and it was such a choking mixture of feelings that sometimes he wanted to grab Riddle, pin him to the wall and yell at him until his throat got hoarse.

Fortunately, Quidditch was keeping Potter occupied. November was approaching, which meant it was time for the first Quidditch match of the season - Gryffindor against Slytherin. And Harry had to face Septimus Weasley in the opposing team.

Quite soon after the duel, he tried to get in contact with the senior Weasley, hoping to get some Ron vibes, as he missed his friend a lot. It didn't go quite well.

- Get away from me, you snake! - Weasley yelled even before Harry had the opportunity to say "Hi", - Get away and don't you dare come close to me! The only place I'll tolerate you is at the game, just for the chance to stick your broom up your arse!

Wow. What a load of prejudice. Hasn't the duel with Malfoy shown Septimus that not all Slytherins were the same? Harry raised his eyebrows at the heart-warming words and stepped away from the Gryffindor, suddenly determined to beat the crap out of him during the following Quidditch match.

Potter trained every day. He had team practices three days a week, and on other days he practised alone. Before his first practice with the team, Avery presented him with a broom - a rather promising German model called The Tannenbaum.

The Tannenbaum was not a dream come true. It was fast enough for Harry, even faster than Damian's broom, but was also very rough at turns, and the vibrations of the handle were so strong they made Potter's arms numb to the elbows. Whenever Harry tried to brake on full speed, the broom would jerk so hard, he nearly came flying off every time. It needed a lot of getting used to, so that is why every morning, practice day or not, Harry trained.

Luke was mad about Harry, although he had a peculiar way of showing it. Each time he laid his eyes on Potter, he would walk up and start showering the boy with questions and suggestions in a very agitated way, swearing every other word. He was a pretty good captain, and Harry was growing accustomed to him, although he tried not to forget he was a possible future Death Eater.

His other team members were not as enthusiastic, especially Eduard Rosier. Harry understood of course why Ed hated him. He had, after all, snatched the seeker position right from under him. On the other hand, the guy still got to be in the team, and he was a lot better at being keeper. Wasn't it time to move on?

Rosier was very blunt with his feelings towards Harry. He didn't bully him, of course, as every word Riddle spoke was law to him, but each time his and Potter's eyes met, he would burn Harry with a proper death stare.

The day his fellow team members learned that Harry was practising every morning, they all reacted in different ways. Avery was ecstatic and tried to make everyone else do the same, Rosier was fuming with anger, and everyone else seemed to think Harry was mental.

- Alright, the "getting used to the broom" part we get, - Joannah Crabe, the bulky Slytherin beater said, - But what is the rest of the circus act you're doing?

She referred to Harry's warm-up routine, strength and cardio exercises that included everything magic folk in nineteen forty-three ignored. Harry knew the history of Quidditch, and it wasn't until twenty more years that a muggle born Quidditch star from Magical Canada, Peter Jordanson, would revolutionize the system of Quidditch training. Although, how can he possibly explain this to his fellow team members?

- Joannah, I know what I'm doing, - was his only reply.

- Yeah, Crabe, lay off him! - the captain roared, - I'd take a fucking page out of his book if I were you! What the hell was that last Monday?! Can't swing your damn bat fast enough to hit the bloody bludger?!

Besides Quidditch and The Daily Prophet, Potter was piled with homework. He was barely scraping through to get passable marks everywhere, except in Defense Against the Dark Arts, thank Merlin. He got a lot of help in the library from Damian, who was looking significantly sadder lately, and Harry suspected it had something to do with what Orion said after the duel.

"You will keep silent about this, or your father will know about the blood status of your love interest". Every time Potter remembered this, he felt the urge to find Black and punch him in the face. He understood now why Sirius ran away from home.

Harry avoided this delicate subject with Shacklebolt. Thankfully, they could talk about Quidditch forever, and whenever they didn't they studied together, getting raised eyebrows from both Hufflepuff and Slytherin students. At one moment Potter was sure he caught a furious glance from Tom Riddle the first time he noticed him in the library with Damian, but he couldn't care less about what the king of prejudice thought about friendships with other House members. Riddle was definitely not in a position to teach Potter anything about his life choices.

The days kept Harry busy, but at nights, it all kept coming back crashing on him. His nightmares returned: he would watch all night how Sirius fell back through the Veil, pulling Ron and Hermione with him into the gaping abyss, and he would often wake up to find his face wet with tears.

Author's note.

Oh god, it's been so long, and I'm so sorry :( I hope you'll still remember this story! I was hoping to make this chapter a lot longer, but decided otherwise. It was rewritten a couple of times, it has a lot of filler - maybe too much :) I just hope you still like it. I'll do everything I can to post more before New Year, I promise to write and edit every day!

What's next? More stuff about the Lestrange cousins (you do remember Harry's roommate Frederic Lestrange?), some insight info on Rosier and his demons, Damian's views on many subjects, Quidditch and...more dreams?

Oh, yes, and I hope Tom and Tina didn't make you blush too much ;)

Thank you for each and every follow and review - you make my world a better place.

Special thanks to my Editor - I owe you a lot, Guinness is on me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.