Chapter Eight
The game seemed staggeringly violent, more than Tom has ever seen. He was surprised to see so much foul play from the "Hogwarts' Golden Boys". Gryffindor beaters going as far as to deliberately hurt a twelve-year-old? Has that even happened before?
Riddle was consumed with the game like never before, glad to see how vastly the Slytherin team improved. Avery was the perfect choice for a captain, that is exactly why Tom had pressed Slughorn into giving him the job. If it wasn't for Riddle, the Head of House would have chosen Rosier - just because he was in debt to his father, as Eduard often mentioned.
Rosier. What a pathetic performance. Tom wasn't even disappointed to see him get knocked out. Now all their hopes lay on the chasers' shoulders. And Granger's, of course.
Boy, did he fly good. Airborne was the only word to describe him. The way he moved made him stand out so much - as if others were trying to control a bucking horse, whereas Harry and his broom were as a single living creature. As if there was no broom at all. Now Riddle saw what Avery meant.
Tom was distracted from his thoughts by a scream. Rockharrow got hit with a bludger, and he saw blood trickling to the ground.
- Will the Slytherin team call for a time out? - he heard the commentator suggest.
Riddle was no Quidditch expert, but he understood that a time out would be a very risky decision. Sure, it might give Avery a chance to come up with a new plan, but his team was outnumbered and losing its spirit by the minute. A pause in the game gave Weasley exactly the same opportunity.
- Oh, but what is that? Looks like Weasley has spotted the snitch! - the commentator roared.
That's when Tom also saw the snitch. It was circling right in front of the Slytherin tribunes, some fifteen feet above him. He saw Weasley dashing forward, reaching for it with his hand.
Where was Granger?
- Tom, look! What's Harry doing?! - Frederic tugged at his sleeve, squinting at something above.
Riddle followed Lestrange's gaze and saw Granger dropping like a stone from the sky.
- He's going to crash! - Frederic yelled.
And then Harry let go off the broom.
Is he mad?
The boy grouped himself up and bent his body outwards, gracefully, like a wild cat pouncing at its prey. Weasley was right behind, but Granger's hand got there faster. He snatched the golden ball and pulled out his wand with his other hand.
- Accio, broom! - Granger yelled, and the broom dashed back into his reach. He swung himself up, mounted it and levelled with the tribunes, mockingly holding out the snitch right before Weasley's face.
The Slytherin tribune broke into a roar. Tom realized he was gripping the fencing so hard the metal hurt his fingers.
- Uhhh... Slytherin wins the game with a hundred and sixty points against Gryffindor's sixty.., - Riddle heard the commentator's confused voice.
- We won! - Frederic was jumping up and down beside Tom like an overly excited puffskein. Everyone around was hugging and cheering. Even Abraxas and Tina clapped, although their faces still looked sour.
Harry flew down and got off his broom, as did everyone else in the team. Avery ran up to the boy and lifted him off his feet. He spun him in the air and started covering Granger's face with kisses. Harry cringed and tried to push Luke away, but all the other team members got there by that time and threw themselves onto the two, forming a big group hug. Moments later, students started pouring out from the tribunes, joining the fray and raising Harry up above their heads.
Riddle suddenly felt jealous. But... no, it was just silly. He didn't want to go down there and join the cheering crowd.
No. He wanted something else. He wanted exclusive attention.
Never in a million years would Harry imagine himself hugging Slytherins. Previously, he'd probably eat a dish of flobberworms rather than as much as touch any one of them.
Apparently, it looked like things could really change.
The Slytherin Common Room was filled with students from the whole House, and they were partying like mad beasts. Whoever said Gryffindors threw the best parties?
It all started with Orion Black.
- Now, I want everyone's attention! - Orion raised his voice with a spell, - Three final reminders for tonight: students from the fifth year and below leave the Common Room to bed after nine!
- Nooo! - the crowd booed.
- Yes! Those caught out of bed will receive detention from me personally, and will be cleaning the mess left after the party! Next, students below the age of sixteen are prohibited from any alcoholic beverages!
More disappointed noises came, but this time less loudly.
- And most importantly... What happens in the Common Room stays in the Common Room!
- YEAAAH! BRING IN THE HOOCH!- Avery's scream was heard above all others, and by the end of it his voice finally broke, making him finish with a croak. He didn't mind it at all though, grabbing Harry again for the hundredth time since the end of the match and tossing him in the air. Never before in his life did Harry feel his short height and light weight abused so much, but he was so happy he didn't mind. It was all worth it.
Of course, Orion-imposed rules were soon enough violated by some of his own wingmen, who passed on drinks to underage boys and girls - or alcohol wasn't to blame at all, just a strong urge to break boundaries - either way, in a couple of hours the room looked like an Irish pub in the middle of a massive brawl. Students hardly standing on their feet, girls shrieking with glee at the top of their voices, boys taking hefty swings at each other, mostly missing (actually, the only real fight was between Joannah Crabe and a beefy guy from the seventh year whose name Harry did not know, and he received a proper whopping at that) and some other eccentric displays of merriness.
Harry watched the scene and couldn't help but laugh. It was such a relief to be finally on one foot with these people. Luke contributed a lot to that, taking Harry with him from one group of people to the other, calling him champion and soliciting cheers. After a while, though, Avery got more interested in a cute ginger girl from the fifth year, and Harry sort of lost him since.
In the absence of distraction, he caught himself in the middle of a peculiar and somewhat embarrassing thought. It might have been the alcohol speaking, as he was pretty drunk by that hour (not as drunk as Avery of course), or maybe he was intoxicated by his success, but he realized he longed for attention from a certain someone.
Tom has never come up to him. He hasn't congratulated the seeker or shown any acknowledgement of Harry's performance whatsoever, never even looked his way.
Of course, this couldn't be important to Harry, could it? It's what Riddle thought of muggles that really mattered. And if the seed of evil was already planted – in any case, not Harry's victory.
But still, didn't Tom care? Was he not impressed at all? How much longer were they going to ignore each other - wasn't it time to break the ice and have things squared away?
Potter started checking on him, quickly, so he wouldn't notice. Riddle, looking as impeccable as always, stood with Frederic Lestrange, Orion, Walburga and Tina, who was left alone after Malfoy's early escape to the dormitory. They were discussing something in a relaxed manner, having an occasional laugh and not paying too much attention to the bacchanalia all around.
This pissed Harry off, so much that he grabbed a glass of fire whiskey and downed it in one gulp. He should walk right up there and find out what Tom thought. Never mind the bunch - he hated all of them, except probably Frederic. This one was too kind to him to hate.
He got himself together and made a determined step in their direction, when...
- Oi! Daphne, come here! - Avery somehow managed to make his hoarse voice heard all around the room. Everyone, including Harry, turned to the entrance. There stood Daphne Rackharrow, paler than usual, but wearing a confident grin.
- I see you're all enjoying my father's fire whiskey!
- Oh, we love him, the whiskey and you! - Luke ran up to her, lifting her on his arms and giving her a spin. She shrieked with laughter. He gave her a smooch (it looked like kissing was his thing) and placed her right next to Tina. That was Harry's chance to wedge in with minimum drama.
- I thought you'd get me off the team if I got in the way? - Daphne asked Luke teasingly.
- As long as you bring us fire whiskey, your place is secured, - Avery winked at her, making her laugh again.
- Daphne, how are you feeling? - Harry asked her, walking up.
- Oh, I'm great, and Montague is too, only he ran off to his Ravenclaw girlfriend, - Rackharrow giggled, - It's very cute, he's hoping she'll kiss him tonight for his "battle wounds".
- And Ed..? - Harry remembered his embarrassing performance.
- Uh.., - Daphne snorted, - That crank says he doesn't want to see anyone.
- We don't really want to see his sorry mug either, - Orion shrugged, - Next thing tomorrow I'm convincing Slughorn to take him off the team for the sake of our House, no matter the debt he owes to his family.
- You shouldn't be so harsh, Orion, - Frederic Lestrange spoke, - After all, it's not like he failed on purpose...
- It certainly looked like he did, - Walburga rolled her eyes.
- He was very nervous, - Frederic was still sticking up for his roommate, making Harry rethink whether he liked this Lestrange or not, - And besides, Lucas is the one to make this kind of decisions.
Frederic reached for a sandwich on a nearby plate.
- Honey, are you sure you should be having this? - Augustina asked him, - A couple more bites and your attractive cheekbones might hide away under all that baby fat.
She reached out and pinched her cousin's cheek. Frederic looked as if someone slapped him across the face. Harry felt tension thicken in the air.
- Augustina, let your cousin eat, - It was the first time Tom spoke, - He looks fine just the way he is.
- Freddy, if you want to look as attractive as me, you can always come train with us, - Luke wrapped his arm around Lestrange's head, making him dip a little under its weight, - We'll shake the chubby off you.
- He's not chubby, - Harry intervened, - Frederic, you look great. Not chubby, no baby fat either.
- Can we stop discussing this? - Orion rolled his eyes.
Harry watched as Frederic Lestrange's eyes grew sadder and darker. Augustina shrugged and took Walburga by the waist.
- Let's go see what our girls are up to. I cannot stand it when boys whine.
Harry snorted and received Tina's frustrated look. The girls left for another group. Frederic put the sandwich back on a plate and brushed the crumbs off his hands.
- I think I'll just go... to bed, - he mumbled.
- But it's only nine, - Harry tried to object. He didn't know why, but he had a bad feeling about Frederic being alone.
- I'll just read in my room until I doze off...
He walked in the direction of the dormitories, head down.
- I think I'll do the same, - Orion sighed, - All this buzz and low-class music are giving me a headache. Riddle, can you make sure no one burns down the school?
- I will.
- Thank you. I owe you one.
Black left, Daphne and Avery slid off to get some more fire whiskey, and Harry suddenly realized he and the future Dark Lord were one on one. Potter snatched a glass from some fifteen-year-old, giving him the finger at his half-hearted protest, took a sip and finally found it in him to look Riddle straight in the eye.
- Do you want to tell me something, Harry? - Tom asked him in a cattish manner.
What a bastard.
- Don't you want to tell me something, Riddle?
- Not really.
- Not even congratulations?
- Never took you for a vain person.
Time for another sip of whiskey.
- You've been avoiding me, - Harry said, his heart beating slightly faster.
- You've been doing the same thing.
This was getting increasingly awkward. Tom sniggered, enjoying every moment of it. Damn it, how could Potter back away now without looking even more embarrassing?
Riddle sighed.
- Listen, Harry. We've said some things back in the Chamber. I might have shocked you, and you've obviously hurt my feelings, - he made a dramatic face, - But I can put it past me if you tell me something else about yourself.
- Of course, - Harry rolled his eyes.
- Is that a "yes"?
- It's an "of course this is what Tom Riddle would say".
Riddle raised his eyebrow, studying Potter.
- You know, I thought about what you said, - Harry continued, - About muggles. About them being dangerous.
- Did you?
- Yes. And I just wanted to say I understand you. I still think you could have used… much lighter measures, but I understand you.
Harry finished his glass, put it on the side table, a little more roughly than he intended, and walked up closer, so no one else could hear.
- You could have obliviated Myrtle, though.
Tom smiled and shifted forward, tilting his head to Harry's ear.
- I could have. But I didn't.
Potter froze. Was he wrong to think better of Tom, even for a second? He suddenly remembered he was standing next to a monster. He felt dizzy and grabbed on to the wall next to Riddle.
- Careful now, - Riddle murmured, - Looks like you've had enough for tonight.
Harry ignored his words.
- Every time I try to find a way to understand you, to forgive you, you ruin everything. I should have known better.
Harry pulled away, tripping over the side table, his empty glass flying off and rolling toward Tom's feet. Riddle kneeled down and picked it up, placing it back on the table. He then moved closer to Harry, regaining the distance that the boy had just formed.
- I had reasons to get rid of Myrtle for good.
- What possible reasons?!
- She was a weak link. Muggle-born, a blabbermouth. She bleated about how her parents, some important muggles, knew all about how she was being bullied. They even came to Hogwarts once. Well, twice. The second time was to collect her body.
Harry frowned, confused.
- So? What could they have possibly done?
- I heard the things they were saying the first time they were here. Her mother screamed at Dippet that if the bullying didn't stop, they would go to muggle authorities and close this school down.
- But that's nonsense! Muggles don't have the power to close the school!
- Are you sure about that? Besides, it's not the school I'm worried about. Muggles... could do anything. We can't exactly apprehend their next steps.
Harry remembered his discussion with Dumbledore about what measures the muggle Prime Minister took.
- Alright, But her death was all the more reason to go to the muggle authorities.
- No, as the parents were obliviated by Dumbledore.
- What?! - Potter couldn't believe his ears, - That's cruel! He would never do that!
Tom chuckled.
- Oh, Harry... You think so highly of Dumbledore. If you only knew the truth...
- I know quite enough! Just because you don't get along with him, doesn't mean he's bad.
- Is that right? He was Grindelwald's close friend once, you know. Very close, actually. He even shared his... radical views.
It was Harry's turn to laugh.
- This is utter bullshit. Who told you?
- He told me himself.
Potter rolled his eyes.
- Do you honestly expect me to believe this?
Tom's face showed a glimpse of irritation.
- Well, if my words are not enough for you, Professor Slughorn would gladly confirm this... Perhaps after a glass of wine. I think we could both trust his words.
- I think you are just trying to play me, - Harry sniggered, - And you're doing a horrible job at it. I see right through you, Riddle.
- I'm telling the truth, Granger.
- Dumbledore would never support Grindewald. He is the greatest wizard I know and he is a good person. And you.., - Harry stuck his pointed finger in Tom's chest, - Are so used to lying it has become second nature to you.
Harry felt something sharp sticking under his rib. It was Tom's wand.
- Don't get carried away, Harry, - Riddle spoke in a calm voice, while his eyes burned through Potter.
Harry found his wand in the pocket of his cloak, not without Riddle watching his every movement, pushing his own wand deeper under Potter's rib.
At that moment Avery's worried face appeared beside the two.
- Tom, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but Freddy is at it again.
Riddle turned to Luke, frowning.
- Where is he?
- At our dorm bathroom.
Tom put his wand away and followed Avery. What was going on? Harry ran after them, rubbing out the pain Riddle's wand left. He had a sick feeling about Lestrange.
Riddle opened the door to their dormitory and walked in, casting only half a glance at the shocked ginger girl Avery flirted with before in the Common Room. He walked straight to the bathroom door, opening it with a flick of his wand.
- No, no, Tom, don't come in.., - Harry heard Lestrange's weeping.
- Frederic, you will die if you go on like this, - Riddle ignored his words and entered the bathroom, - And I need you alive.
- I won't die, I've got it under control, I swear!
- This is dangerous magic, you need to stop.
Harry ran up to the bathroom, finally getting to see what was happening inside. He gasped. Frederic was sitting on the floor by the toilet, bleeding from his mouth. He looked drastically skinnier than before, his face devoid of any color. The toilet was filled with something dark - Harry realized it was also blood.
- But I need this, Tom... I need to be better. I need to be more like you. Haven't you heard what she said?
- Don't listen to her! Expelliarmus! - Riddle tried to disarm Lestrange, but the boy blocked his spell, grasping feverishly his wand.
- Let me finish, Tom!
- No. Put your wand away.
- Just a bit more...
- There are other ways to be more like me, if that's what you want.
Frederic sobbed.
- It hurts, Tom.
- Oh, does it? This is dark magic, it should hurt! Give me the damn wand!
Lestrange loosened his grip and let the wand roll out of his hand. Riddle accioed it and passed it to Avery.
- Take him to the hospital wing.
- What's the story?
- We'll say his teeth-brushing spell went terribly wrong because of all that fire whiskey.
Avery picked Lestrange up from the floor and carried him out of the room. Frederic's arms hung limp on Luke's strong shoulders.
- You, - Tom finally addressed the ginger girl, walking up to her, - Obliviate!
One flick of a wand, and the girl started blinking, confused.
- What are you doing here? - Tom asked her.
She blushed.
- I'm... I'm sorry!
- Please go back to your dormitory. It's way past your bedtime.
She ran out, closing the door behind her.
Riddle walked up to the toilet and flushed the bloody mess away.
- Scourgify, - he got rid of any blood stains left and took a look around for any other marks.
- Tom? - Harry finally spoke, - What just happened?
Riddle left the bathroom, closing the door, and proceeded with scanning the dormitory.
- Frederic tried to get rid of everything he had eaten in a month... or maybe even longer, with help of dark magic. There is a spell, mostly used for torture, that takes everything you've consumed out of your body, including fat and muscle tissue.
He found blood stains on Lestrange's sheets and cleaned them off with another flick of his wand.
- So, this is some drastically fucked up version of an eating disorder?
- Call it what you like, but don't tell anyone.
- Why?
Tom walked up to his bed and sat on it, finally turning to Harry.
- Because he would get expelled. Obviously. For using dark magic.
- But... He's sick. Who would expel him for that?
- Your favorite professor, Dumbledore.
Harry frowned in disbelief.
- The Dumbledore I know wouldn't do that.
Riddle snorted.
- What makes you think you know him?
- I just do.
- So many secrets, Harry...
- I could say the same about you, Tom.
- Well, here's another secret: Dumbledore was the only one that suspected me of Warren's murder. He didn't have any evidence, of course, but I could tell. And yet, he didn't do anything about it. Don't you wonder why?
Harry shifted uncomfortably. After all, this question bothered him for years.
- Why?
Riddle studied the boy attentively with his dark eyes.
- A couple of weeks before Myrtle's unfortunate day I... had an interesting chat with him. I was trying to get some information from Dumbledore. It was a lot of work, actually, trying to make him like me to tell me what I needed. I stayed after class, made it seem like everything he spoke was interesting, nodded in agreement like a bobblehead. And he believed me... for a moment.
Tom laughed. The sharp sound strangely resonated with his handsome looks.
- I fooled the famous Albus Dumbledore. Just for an instant, but I did. And, you see, Harry, - Riddle made a hand gesture, - He said I remind him of his friend. Grindewald.
Harry snorted, and Riddle twitched in irritation, but quickly changed his expression back to a calm smile.
- Yes, I was just as surprised as you to learn they were friendly, but he explained it all to me. They were both very young, ambitious, searching for ways to prove their strengths and talents. And Dumbledore... Dumbledore was strongly under the influence of Grindewald's views. He adored his friend.
Harry was focused on every word, going cold inside, afraid of what he might learn about his favourite professor.
- And you see, Harry, I must have looked very shocked, as he started explaining himself. He told me about Grindewald's visions of disastrous muggle wars, their bombs and other weapons, and how it all terrified him. How they both thought a world ruled by wizards was a safer place. "You must understand, Tom", he said "We weren't all that wrong. Just look at what is happening now, look at this war".
Tom stood up and moved to the window, that cast a green light on his face. Harry cleared his voice.
- What happened next? Or is this it? He said some vague stuff about muggles, and now I should believe that he is evil?
Riddle smiled and turned to face him, putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers.
- Oh, he's not evil in the classical sense of this word, Harry. I'm sure he thinks of himself as of a "man with a mission" and is convinced that everything he does is for the greater good. The methods that he chooses is what I'm getting at.
- Methods?
Tom's smile got even more cunning.
- Skilful manipulation. Getting others to do the dirty job while he plays the role of the wise man who always has the right answer.
Harry snorted again.
- I think you just hate him.
- I, Harry, haven't finished the story.
Tom leaned on the windowsill.
- Picture this, Granger. Something wicked is on the loose at Hogwarts, petrifying its muggle-born students. The castle has been searched for weeks, but no one knows what or who it is. And at these stressful times Dumbledore tells me this: "Myrtle Warren is a good example of one of the many threats that Grindewald and I discussed. Something so small and feeble can attract much bigger consequences" he said.
Harry felt his heart sink.
- "To be honest, Tom, sometimes I think that with all of the petrifications in the school making her silent for at least some time could be a blessing". And then your favourite Dumbledore laughed, Harry.
-You are lying, - Harry's voice was shaking.
Tom smiled softly.
- I wish I was, Harry. But it is Dumbledore who marked the beginning of my killing spree.
Potter felt sick to his stomach. Whatever Riddle was saying, he wouldn't believe it. Or would he?
- I think I need another whiskey...
- I think you're wrong, Harry. What you need is a couple of glasses of water and a good night's sleep. Judging by the ginger girl's presence, Avery is sleeping somewhere else. Lestrange and Rosier are at the hospital wing, and I think I'll have a look at what is going on in the Common Room and visit a friend. So, you have the whole room to yourself for tonight. Have fun.
He stood up, fixed his tie in the mirror, and turned to leave.
- Your friend? - Harry couldn't stop himself blurting out. Something pinched inside of him. Was he talking about that person who bit him?
Riddle grinned at him.
- Good night, Harry. And congratulations. You were magnificent today. It was the first time I enjoyed Quidditch.
Harry found his cheeks burning. Tom turned back to the door and left, and Potter dropped on his bed trying to digest everything that crashed on his shoulders once more.
The distraction that Granger provided was fading away with every step Tom took towards the dungeon classroom, where he agreed to meet Augustina.
She did it again. Riddle stretched his fingers trying to take the tension off his knuckles. He needed to hold control of his rising anger.
Tom's attempt to make anything decent out of his dormitory neighbours always crashed against the rocks of their pathetic puberty issues. Avery with his urge to get his hands under any cute girl's skirt, Rosier with his foolish jealousy and Lestrange with his messed up insecurities.
And then there was Tina, playing on it all whenever she wanted additional attention.
He slammed the classroom door a little harder than he intended.
- Tina, what the devil was that?
Augustina softly jumped off the desk she was sitting on and flattened the folds of her skirt.
- The devil? - she laughed, - The muggle monster? Are you channelling your ancestors, Riddle?
Tom stepped closer, grabbing her by the wrists.
- You don't know anything about my ancestors...
Augustina snorted and broke into laugher.
Oh, how Riddle hated her right now. She broke away from his grip.
- How dramatic! Were they very important people? Maybe I should kneel before you? You would like that, wouldn't you?
Tina placed her hand on the inner side of his thigh, but Tom pushed it away.
- You've risked your cousin's life just to tease him. I'm very disappointed.
- Oh, Tommy, don't be such a buzz kill.
- Don't call me Tommy.
Tina pulled away, locking her hands behind her back and feigning modesty.
- Fine, fine... I've been a very bad girl. I've disappointed my favourite prefect... Will he teach me how to behave?
- I'm not done with you. You have to stop picking on Frederic, or he'll end up dead.
Lestrange sighed, finally letting go of her childish demeanour.
- I know, I'm sorry. I snapped. It's all that Harry Granger and his glorious victory... I hate that kid. As soon as he came up to us, I had this desperate urge to act like a bitch.
- That's very stupid.
- Well, then I am stupid! Being a bitch is the only thing left for me! I can't choose who I want to be with, I can't start a career, I can't get a higher education, I can't even play fucking Quidditch in the opinion of my parents - all I can be is a bitch.
Tina turned away and started pacing the classroom like the caged animal she was.
- I hate my freaking life! Thanks for reminding me! - she finally spat in his face.
- You're a privileged pure-blood, get a grip of yourself.
- I'm a privileged piece of furniture!
- Well, then why don't you go against your family if you hate it so much? Huh? What's stopping you?
Augustina froze. Riddle was fighting the urge to choke her.
- I'll tell you why. You are used to having everything. You don't want to work for it like me.
- Shut up.
- You would rather be Malfoy's lap bitch than prove to the world you're worth something.
- Shut up! SHUT UP!
Tina pulled out her wand, pointing it at his heart. That's something new. She was shaking with rage. Tom softened: after all, he was still planning on other things rather than bickering. He needed it; today more than ever before.
He approached closely, pressing himself against her wand.
- Do you remember how it all started, Tina? Our first kiss?
Riddle slowly pulled her wand out of her hand.
- That felt empowering, didn't it?
He pushed her onto the desk behind her.
- Do you remember the first time we crossed the line?
Tom pulled closer, placing a kiss on her jawline.
- You know what, Tom...
- What? - another kiss, this time on her neck.
- Why don't you fuck yourself for a change?
Tina pushed Riddle away, and he crashed into the desk behind him.
- Don't expect me to do whatever you want. I'm not your lapdog, whoever your ancestors were, be it Merlin himself!
Augustina flicked her long platinum hair, turned away and walked out of the classroom, slamming the door behind her.
That was something new.
What was Tom to do know?
He straightened himself out.
Oh, how he wished for a world where people would silently do what he needed them to. No resistance, no protests, no weakness or whining - only obedience.
Just like his puppets.
He made his way to the Room of Requirement, hands in his pockets, breathing in the thick silence of the school corridors at night.
So, Harry said an interesting thing today. "I understand you". Yes, he then reprimanded Tom, saying he should have spared Myrtle's sorry life, but it sure felt like he was willing to grasp on to any straw that could justify Tom's action.
"I thought about what you said about muggles".
Yes, of course you did, Harry. You just wanted an excuse to talk about this, didn't you?
And then Tom provided the straw. His story about Dumbledore, somewhat altered, of course. He and the professor never actually talked about Myrtle. Tom overheard this discussion between Dumbledore and Slughorn, and his Head of House was actually the one to say the words.
Sure, Harry said he didn't believe Tom. That was a predictable reaction. All Riddle needed was time for his words to sink in properly into that messy-haired head.
Tom stopped before the hidden entrance to the Room of Requirement.
Why did he suddenly care so much about what Granger actually thought? Sure, the kid new too much about Riddle, but he made sure the boy wouldn't talk. And he didn't. Shouldn't he care more about Harry keeping out of his way?
Yes, it felt empowering to have someone know of the things you have done. Tom read about psychopaths writing to newspapers or leaving messages in other ways just for the joy of people talking about it. Maybe for the adrenaline of playing hide and seek with the detectives, maybe as a way to express themselves, but did they actually care what others thought?
Well, not that Tom should compare himself with a psychopath. He was completely healthy mentally and calculated everything with a cool head, but still it felt very good to have someone know, someone that doesn't pose a real threat and someone who could acknowledge who Riddle truly was.
But when did he start to care what Harry actually thought of him?
Tom closed his eyes, thought about his orchestra and walked three times past the wall. When he opened his eyes, the door was there.
He pulled the handle and walked into his familiar surroundings, the puppets creeping away making way to the piano.
Take your positions, - Riddle commanded, and they did what they were told, which filled Tom up with the satisfaction he longed for.
He walked to the piano and sat on his stool, losing himself in his memories.
Why did he feel so happy about Granger giving him so much thought?
Tom remembered how the cheering crowd picked Harry up after he won the match and felt a familiar pinch of jealousy.
And that Hufflepuff supporting Harry at the duel with Malfoy. That could be a nice target for his Basilisk, if only he was a mudblood.
Harry's fearless flying, advanced duelling skills, impudent, but entertaining, behaviour. His genuine interest in Tom. It all lit up inside of Riddle's head, bringing colour to the grey dullness of his life filled with lies, pure-blood kowtow and forced sweet talk.
Oh, and something else.
Harry sure did look good in Quidditch uniform.
Time to play the Rhapsody.
Author's note.
I'm sorry it took me so long! You can read more apologies in my writing Tumblr - I'm there under the name shehonessky.
Happy Valentine's day everybody and please accept this chapter as a valentine card (if you like it) or not (if you don't).
Special thanks to my Editor in Chief, who edited this chapter TWICE. Because, yes, that can apparently happen.
Thank you for each and every review and follow - you light up my heart (maybe like Harry lights up Riddle's?).
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.