Chapter 14

The Hogwarts Express was leaving after breakfast to carry most of the student population back home to their families for Christmas celebration, and if Tom had to make sure Damian Shacklebolt agreed to his deal, it would be right about now. Riddle would gladly sleep it in if it were any other circumstances, but making sure Damian stayed away from Harry was sitting in him like an irritating itch.

Harry was his now, even if the boy didn't know it yet. He knew too much, Tom was to interrogate him about so much more - he made the stupidest mistake ever of letting the boy go last night, and Tom wouldn't find peace until he was certain Harry was tied as closely to him as possible. Preferably out of free will, but not without a nag from the outside.

Riddle dressed, adding a bit more force to his movement than usual, hurrying without letting anyone see he was in a hurry. Avery and Lestrange were up as well, making sure they had all their things packed, and Tom couldn't wait for them all to get out and leave him alone with Harry.

Tom turned to look at Harry's bed and saw his hand dangling out from behind the bed curtain. Good. He was still sleeping, probably exhausted from the fight.

Tom should have healed him properly last night. There were so many things he should have done instead of banging Tina.

Riddle turned away from Harry's bed, rushing memories of last night away, and noticed Eduard Rosier lazily dressing up, his trunk in its usual place, with no signs of packing home at all.

- Eduard?

Rosier turned around, and Tom was sure he saw a glimpse of guilt on his face.

- Why are you not packing? - Tom stared at his roommate without blinking.

- I've decided to stay, Tom, - Rosier answered, hiding his eyes away from Riddle.

- Stay? All semester I've heard you whine how you hate this mudblood-filled school.

Riddle was sure he saw Avery's back turn tense. His roommates were up to something.

- Things are messy at home, - Eduard continued, - I don't want to return either.

- Things have always been messy at your home, that hasn't stopped you before, - Tom spoke the words watching Avery's nervous packing closely.

- Maybe I should have stayed instead all these years. Besides, I'd love to be of help to you.

Tom fought away the irritation and smiled. He didn't have time for this now.

- What a splendid idea, - he answered, - I'm sure I'll find just the job for you.

Riddle turned on his heels and left the dormitory. He found Damian in the Great Hall, finishing his breakfast, and dropped at the Hufflepuff table, causing curious stares and giggles.

- Good morning, Damian. How are you feeling today?

Damian scowled at Tom and sipped on his tea, not bothering to answer.

- I've been thinking of a good time to praise Alex to Professor Slughorn, and I've realized that the best place for it is the Christmas Slug Club party. Unless your decision is negative, of course.

Shacklebolt kept giving Tom a despising look.

- No? Alright then, - Tom brought his palms down on the table and started getting up, when he finally heard the words.

- No, wait! Please!

Tom slowly turned back and lowered himself on the bench. This time he didn't say anything, waiting for Shacklebolt to continue.

- I agree to your terms. I need that recommendation. And I'm grateful that you are willing to do this for me. I just hate the fact that you need to separate me from Harry to fix your relationship with him.

Riddle didn't want to discuss Harry with Damian.

- I'm not negotiating my terms.

- Yes, I understand, - Damian bit his lip, probably searching for other words to put his thought in, - I'm not the problem, Riddle. That's all I'm saying.

Tom sighed.

- I don't need advice from you, - Riddle lifted himself up again, then added, making sure no one, but Damian heard him, - Break my terms, and I will make your life miserable.

- I'm sure you will, - that look of despise returned back to Shacklebolt's face.

Harry couldn't remember how he got to his dormitory, but he woke up laying on top of his bed, fully dressed in Luke's Quidditch uniform and starving. He could eat an erumpent and ask for more.

The room was empty. Everybody must have left for breakfast.

Breakfast. That was exactly what he needed. More than anything in the world.

Harry got off the bed, slightly dizzy, and hurried out of the dormitory, rolling up the sleeves of Avery's Quidditch robe and pulling up his pants that kept sliding right back off. He was drowning in Luke's uniform, but it didn't seem as important as getting food.

Harry was busy drooling on images of different sorts of food he might find in the Great Hall erupting in his head, so he didn't immediately notice that the corridors of the school were empty. He must have stumbled only on a couple of students on his way.

Harry opened the massive doors to the Hall and saw not more than a dozen of students scattered around.

- Where is everyone? - he asked what looked like a first-year Gryffindor.

- Everyone's gone home for the Christmas holidays, obviously, - the kid rolled his eyes, - What, you got hit by a bludger or something? Geez, get yourself a normal uniform! Surely your wealthy snake friends can splurge on that!

Harry ignored the brat, magnetized by the scent of breakfast. Or was that lunch? Christmas, sure. Whatever.

Potter moved to the Slytherin table. He grabbed a bowl of hot chicken soup and gulped it down fast. That felt good. Probably, a second bowl of soup would feel even better, but maybe after that sandwich.

The doors of the Great Hall sprung open with a loud bang, and in walked Lucas Avery, all dressed up for the chilly weather, a fur-lined coat making his shoulders look even broader.

- Granger, here you are! I thought you'd never wake up, - he gave Harry a thorough look, - How are you feeling?

- I'm ungry, - Harry spoke with a full mouth, not bothering to get distracted from his sandwich.

- Good! Appetite is always a good sign. I remember my first morning after that Dragonblood potion! I think I ate a whole boar. Listen, there's something important I need to talk to you about...

Luke sat at the table and continued in a lower voice.

- Harry, I'm leaving. Frederic left already. I convinced Ed to stay, which was quite easy as soon as I said it was necessary, to be honest...

- What? Why did you do that? - Potter groaned imagining Rosier's sower face.

- Because you can't stay alone with Riddle!

Harry didn't think about that. Of course, Tom wouldn't return to the orphanage if he had a chance. Avoiding him became a common strategy, but staying completely alone with him in one dormitory was a whole other story.

- You think he might hurt me? - Harry asked Lucas.

Avery looked around and leaned in, closer to Harry and lowering his voice even more.

- You can not tell anyone what I am about to tell you. Swear to me!

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise.

- Okay, fine, I swear..., - he answered, pulling over that second bowl of soup.

Avery gave him another thorough look-over and began his story.

- Freddy, Ed and I have always helped Tom. When he needed to learn a new spell, something beyond the school program, we've always been his test objects. If there was some interesting potion, we had to take it, so he would study the effects. When he needed to train dueling, we had to duel him. And it was never easy. We often ended up getting hurt pretty bad. For instance, in dueling - it started with simple defense spells, but later grew into very dark magic. The Cruciatus Curse, the Imperius Curse - that's just the top of it.

- That cruel bastard.., - Harry growled.

- No! It was always for the better. He hurt us in practice, but he always let us try it out on him too. He never went easy on us, balancing on the tip of the knife. But he always asked us to give him all we had in return. And now we are well-trained and resistant to many curses all thanks to him! Sure, it was bloody, but he always took care of it. He healed us, taught us how to heal ourselves properly - and that's not easy magic, they don't teach it here, Harry!

- It sounds like you think what he did was okay.

- Yes it was okay, Harry! - Avery slammed his hand on the table, - He always took care of us!

Luke frowned, looking around the place again, seeing if anyone was paying too much attention to them.

- But he never let us bleed out. He never let us leave with injuries. He never healed us in a sloppy way.

Harry reached for the bite mark on his neck, Luke's eyes following closely by.

- He always made sure we were healthy. But what he did to you... It's the first I've seen from him.

Harry wasn't too impressed with Avery's words. After all, that's not the first he'd seen from Voldemort. There was another reason Harry wasn't too worried about getting hurt. If Riddle really wanted to kill him, he already would have. Now that he knows that Harry is from the future, he is too interested in him to kill him. Harry was sure of that.

It's the time meddling catastrophe that was a real danger. What the hell should he do with that? Maybe he'll have some good ideas after another sandwich...

- So, Rosier is going to help me? How exactly? I'm sure he wouldn't mind having me murdered...

- He won't leave the two of you alone. That might be enough.

Harry shrugged. Perhaps, keeping Riddle off his back while he thought of a plan to fix the mess he's done wasn't such a bad idea.

- Harry, I would stay if I could, - Lucas continued, - But there is no way I can, my mother needs me. And Frederic wouldn't stay, because they have this official family gathering, and his cousin Augustina would be there, and there is no way he would miss that.

Harry let out a tired laugh.

- Harry, Ed isn't that bad. He has a good heart. He's messed up about Riddle, sure, and he might come out rude or cruel occasionally, but deep down he is another person. Maybe this is a chance for you two to finally get over the stupid disagreements you have.

- I highly doubt that...

- Don't, think about it. I don't want you to get hurt. And it's not just about Quidditch...

Potter snorted, and Avery gave him a frown.

- I think you're a great lad. Don't get yourself hurt and watch out for Riddle. Now! - Luke slammed his hand on the table again, - Let's end this mushy feeling talk and get straight to business! We have an upcoming match with Ravenclaw in February, and it is no time to fucking sit and wait while those bloody pigeons train! I'll be practicing every day, every team member has an assignment to do the same, and you missed practice yesterday! Fucking unacceptable!

- I nearly got killed...

- You don't play me, Granger! If you had been thinking more about Quidditch, you could have avoided that fight from the very beginning! I will wait for owls with reports on what you do... And let me know if things get weird with Riddle again. Now, I need to get going.

Avery stood up from the table.

- Thank you, Luke, really! - Harry smiled to his captain, grateful for his protection, even if he thought it wasn't all that necessary.

- Stick to Rosier! - Lucas warned with his finger, winked Harry goodbye and left.

Tom was giving it his all to keep himself from slouching as he slowly returned to the Dungeons after the Christmas Slug Club party. He was deadly tired.

Forcing fake smiles and flattery onto himself never came as revolting as that night. All those side glances at his second hand, no-name robes and awkward pauses at the mention of his last name were the essences of what he despised in pureblood snobs and one of the reasons why he craved to see them crawl to his feet.

Slug Club meetings were getting harder and harder to weather, and after getting to know, thanks to Harry, that he will be Voldemort, it was tempting to consider it all a bloody waste of time.

However, he did manage to get what he needed - Slughorn's recommendation for Damian's ex-girlfriend.

His success was thoroughly calculated and sealed by galleons of flattery and liters of his Head of House's favorite mead. A bit of manipulation here and there, a very sad love story about a poor Ravenclaw girl Alex Kobayashi, lots of hinting on how to help her, and lots of tolerance to withstand Slughorn's self-praise.

Much to Tom's own surprise, his half-impromptu sob story managed to reduce Slughorn to actual sobs. Working at his tears with a handkerchief so furiously Tom was afraid he might gouge his eye out, the professor promised Riddle to do everything to help poor Miss Kobayashi, send Agrippa Shacklebolt an owl first thing in the morning and get her an internship in his potion supplies network.

First thing in the morning, sure, given that the man remembers a thing after all that mead. The rest of the evening Tom invested in making sure the professor had something to eat to keep him from getting too wasted; and now, when the party was finally over, he wished one thing only: to sleep.

If only he could be alone.

Eduard Rosier and all his unspoken questions were following him to the Dungeons. Tom did not have the patience for it. That brat had been up to something with Avery, felt guilty about it and presently was getting out of his skin to show Tom how helpful and loyal he was.

Well, not too loyal, right, Eduard?

- Gargoyle, - Riddle growled the password to the entrance and stepped inside the Common Room, without so much as a glance when the door sprung back, hitting Rosier, and ignored his indignant "ow". He went straight to the dormitory, unbuttoning on the way, pulling off the second-hand black velvet robe, that he wouldn't have hated so much of he didn't know where it came from, throwing it on the floor for Eduard to pick up, struggling with the small annoying buttons on the sleeves of his batiste shirt.

Tom stepped away from the door, letting Rosier run up and open it for him. If that brat was determined to hang around, Tom might as well get some use out of him. Riddle walked in, moving from his sleeves to the collar of his shirt, and spotted Harry sitting on the bed cross-legged, holding a book in his hand. The boy looked startled.

- Tom, - Rosier's anxious voice came from behind, - Your robe now is all... All dusty… and I think that's someone's hair.

Riddle turned around and watched Eduard pull a long brown hair off the velvet material.

- Well, you wanted to be helpful. Why don't you clean it? - Tom asked, and Rosier nodded and started dusting it off quickly, - No, Eduard, I meant properly clean it.

For a second Tom thought Rosier might get offended and refuse. There was a fleeting glimpse in his eyes, probably something to do with a pureblood being treated as a halfbreed, but that glimpse was gone after a second. However, that was enough to set back a deadly tired Tom.

- Sure, Tom, I'll bring it to the elves. Is there... is there anything else I could do?

- Why not?

Tom pulled off his shirt and dropped it on top of the robe, closely watching Eduard's concerned face. He sat on Rosier's bed, pulled off his black leather shoes, handed them to Eduard, unbuttoned his pants, pulled them off with the socks and added it all to the pile of clothes Rosier was holding. Then he straightened up and walked closer to Eduard, using the benefit of his height to look down on his roommate in a literal sense, too.

Eduard had the decency to lower his eyes. If it were any other circumstances, he'd never miss a chance to ogle Tom stripped down to his underpants.

- I want my clothes cleaned, properly folded and back in my trunk by the time I'm up. Is that clear?

Eduard nodded, not daring to look up.

- Good.

Rosier turned and left. Tom stood as he were for several seconds, lost in thought, - when his tired mind finally registered Harry's head buried behind his book, crimson ears poking from the sides. Riddle walked to the space between their beds, making Harry lower the book and watch his every move carefully, with a very serious expression on his face. He was probably expecting Merlin knew what after their last "conversation".

They spent a couple of minutes staring at each other in complete silence, then Tom decided he was too drained and not ready at all to have that discussion. He turned to his bed and started changing into his pajamas, not bothering to cover his nakedness. A thought crossed his mind to quickly check Harry's head with the help of legilimancy and see what impression he was making, but he chased it away. After all, he will find out this and many other things soon enough.

Potter cursed Avery a thousand times in his head. It was the thirtieth of December, and five long boring days were behind at last. Rosier was dogging his steps everywhere. Everywhere. And, as if that wasn't enough, Avery wrote every day with Quidditch instructions for the two, and Ed and Harry had to follow them, quoting, "if they wanted to stay on the team". At first, Quidditch brightened Harry's mood, even though they had to practice in a blizzard, but then it turned out Eduard could make even Quidditch boring. There was nowhere to hide from the guy, no one else to speak to. Apart from Rosier, Potter and Riddle, everyone else from House Slytherin went away, leaving the dungeons uncomfortably quiet and extremely dull. In these conditions, even the time travel mess Harry got himself into ceased to grip his attention.

Rosier was one of the most annoying people Harry had ever met. It was impossible to find a topic on which they would agree. Every discussion with him ended in a bitter quarrel, so it was best not to talk at all.

- Merlin, Granger, I can't stand your face anymore.

- Shut up, loser.

Eduard landed in an armchair next to Harry, who was desperately trying to find something heartwarming in the cold atmosphere of the Slytherin Common Room. At least the two were past bothering to cover up the mutual hate. Potter saw how little Rosier enjoyed time spent together, and so he couldn't help but wonder how on earth did he agree to do this for Avery.

Harry turned his head and glanced at Rosier, lazily reclining in a chair. Ed must have felt eyes on him, because he sighed and stared back.

- What is it?

Potter turned fully to him, and Ed sat up, giving Harry a frown.

- Why on earth did you agree to stay here with me? What did Luke tell you? I can see you are having a terrible time, and, I don't know, maybe it's some huge favor Luke promised you, or...

- None of your business, - Ed cut him off.

Harry leaned back. Of course, what did he expect? He was doomed to a holiday filled with scorn, loathing and bile.

At that moment they both heard the quiet sound of a door being gently shut, and in a second Riddle came out of the dormitory corridor, walked across the Common Room and left The Slytherin residence without sparing one glance in the direction of where the two boys were sitting.

Harry turned back to Rosier and caught him sitting straight up, staring at the passageway Riddle left seconds ago, a mixture of hope, longing and devotion written all over his face.

- Have you been hoping, perhaps, to spend the time with him? - Harry asked Ed again.

Rosier gave Harry an angry glance.

- Will you mind your own business, Granger?

- What exactly are you hoping for? Do you really think he is capable of returning similar feelings to you?

Eduard twitched a little.

- You don't know what you are talking about, - he answered in a half-whisper.

- You end up spending this whole time with me, loathing me and suffocating in an empty castle. The only reasonable explanation to this is that you wouldn't miss a chance to stick up to Riddle, on the off chance His Highness decides to reward you with his attention.

- Shut up!

- I've heard that before, yes. "Shut up, Harry, so I won't miss it when my master whistles!".

- Shut up, Harry, or I'll punch your lights out, so my job keeping Riddle away from you would be almost bearable!

Of course Avery spilled the butterbeer to Rosier. How much did the guy know, Harry wondered? Did he know about the bite?

As soon as Harry thought about it, the bite mark tingled on his neck.

- So, Avery told you about the attack, and, out of the generosity of heart, you agreed to help? - Harry asked, rubbing his neck, - Sorry, but wouldn't you rather have me killed? Why protect me from the monster?

- Oh, I would gladly see him murder your face! Partly stayed for that exact reason!

- Then you suck at leaving him alone with me to do the job.

- I'm not leaving him alone with you!

Eduard glowered at him. It was strange how at that exact moment he reminded Ron Weasley during all those stupid quarrels with 'Mione over Victor Krum, when Ron didn't have the guts to say he was into her.

Was that the reason Eduard stayed?

- Is it jealousy that's driving you? Is that it, you're jealous?

Rosier looked away, not able to look straight at Harry from all the hate pouring out of him.

- Nooo! - Harry hooted, watching every muscle on Eduard's face confirm his words, - You think, what, I'm going to steal your man?

Harry cracked up, unable to stop himself from laughing.

He could almost see the headlines: "Extra! Extra! Dark Lord's secret squeeze none other than Harry Potter himself!" or "The Boy Who Loved!". That was just swell. Harry would pay a galleon to see Hermione and Ron's faces right now. He doubled over, as a second wave of hysterical laughter came down on him.

- "Tom and Harry, high school sweethearts" - Potter squeaked, as laughter kept bursting out of him.

- Why is that so funny to you?! - Ed was staring at Harry, eyes squinted.

- How is this not funny, Ed?! We hate each other! I hate Tom! I hate everything about him! I wish he'd try to murder me again, so I could murder him myself! And you…, - Harry started laughing again, - You think what, there's something between us? Seriously? What could have given you this idea?

Harry stared at Rosier, and he stared back.

- Luke thinks he's obsessed with you.

"Obsessed, obsessed, obsessed" - Harry's neck pulsated.

- What? Luke is the one obsessed about me over Quidditch, don't you think? - Harry vigorously clawed at his itching neck, - Maybe he manipulated you into staying with me for all the Quidditch practice?

Harry watched Rosier's face slowly relax.

- Kind of sounds like our Quidditch captain, doesn't it?

- Tom asks about you more than about others, how would you explain that?

- I don't know! - Harry shrugged, - But it's surely not from being lovesick!

- Are you sure about this? - Eduard frowned, giving Potter a judging look.

- Yes, pretty sure! - Harry confirmed, ignoring the vivid image of Tom's mouth on his neck.

Rosier leaned back in his chair.

- Good.

- Besides, I'm pretty sure he is seeing someone else.

- What?!

Ed jumped right back up, all signs of aggression and hatred leaving his face completely. For once he seemed simply and artlessly worried. Harry could almost pity him.

- Well, I'm not completely sure.

- What do you know?

- Haven't you wondered where he's off to so often at nights?

- He has prefect duty.

- That much prefect duty?

Rosier hugged his knees, curling into a ball, as if he was afraid he'd fall apart.

- I was never allowed to ask. He is very reserved about the things he does.

- Well, I sort of asked him, and he didn't deny.

Eduard's eyes flashed.

- Why would you ask him a thing like that, if you hate him so much? Why would you even talk to him?

- Because I got dragged in the middle of it!

- In the middle of what?!

Regret of mentioning anything at all came crashing into Harry like Hogwarts Express. When did he become such a blabbermouth?

- Hey, I probably got it all wrong!

- In the middle of what, Granger?!

Harry sighed. He had to give the guy something.

- I suspected that he and Augustina were having an affair, because of a weird and absolutely crazy favor she asked for. And then Riddle approached me to find out what the favor was. And I confronted both of them. She denied it, he didn't confirm it. So, it was probably a false alarm.

Harry breathed out and leaned back in his chair, praying for the Riddle topic to end.

- No, it wasn't, - Rosier quietly replied.

Potter turned to look at Eduard's face. It had all color drained from it. He stared at the chair's lining, calculating.

- It's only logical. Who else? She is considered the most popular witch in the school. She is beautiful, smart and talented.

- You're forgetting she denied it.

- Of course she denied it. She's a pureblood, and he is not. She is engaged into another noble family. She would never confirm it. He, on the other hand..., - Rosier climbed back into his chair, - He likes to play with people's feelings. He likes games. He would love it if it all broke out, for every one of us to suffer. Poor Frederic...

Harry did not expect Eduard to see through the mask Riddle was wearing.

- Yes, he's exactly like that. How can you like him? - he asked softly.

Rosier sat rocking himself from side to side.

- How can you not? Everything else seems so dull and insignificant with him around. He is everything I ever wanted. And I could give him so much. Money, connections, - I could open the doors to the pureblood society for him.

- Wouldn't your family be against this?

- How would they know? I would marry some heiress because I had to - just like we all do. That doesn't mean I couldn't… be... with him. As a pureblood heir, your main responsibility is to sire enough children to continue the lineage, and rear them according to their station. Who you choose to actually love is no one's business. There's hardly a pureblood family without an affair or two going on in them, and who could blame them? Who would want to be unhappy for the rest of their life? Unfortunately, I am not the one he chose to be with...

Eduard let out a shuddered sigh and glanced at Harry.

- I cannot believe I am speaking to you about this, of all people.

- I didn't believe you had a heart too, although Luke did mention it.

- Just to make it clear: me telling you all this does not make us friends.

- Sure.

- And you better keep your mouth shut.

Harry stifled a grin. Rosier sure was an asshole, but he wasn't as hopeless as Potter thought.

- I'm sorry if Tom makes you suffer, - Harry said carefully, - And I'm sorry Freddy has to suffer because of Augustina. I wish you both didn't have to.

- Whatever, - Ed blurted.

- But there is something I would like you to know about Tom.

Rosier lifted his eyes back to Harry, who felt a desperate urge to tell the guy more: tell him that Tom was also a murderer.

Potter felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart and wrist. He looked down on his hand and saw lines from the Unbreakable Vow appear on it. A good reminder to shut up before he let slip too much.

- You made an Unforgettable Vow with him? - jealousy returned to Rosier's voice.

- Unfortunately. I got to know more than I was allowed to. Dark stuff, Ed...

Harry felt another pang, harder this time. He started rubbing his burning chest with a hand that burned just as much.

- You know that you will die if you tell? - Rosier asked in a somewhat concerned voice.

- Yeah, it sure feels like it. I just wanted to let you know you are right about him enjoying games. He is dangerous. Be careful.

Eduard laughed, shaking his head.

- You are not the one to tell me this, Granger. I'm well aware of how dangerous he is. And I'm not sure I would have liked him as much if he were otherwise. I accept the rules of his game.

This dumbass, not backing off even in the face of deadly danger. Why was he so stubborn? Harry felt angry and annoyed, doubly so because the irony was not lost on him.

- It's his birthday tomorrow, - Rosier suddenly said, - He hates that day. That might be part of the reason he's moodier than usual.

Potter frowned at Rosier, but he just shrugged and got up from the chair again.

- I think I'm done babysitting you for today. I have a life, after all, - he said and turned to leave.

- Don't forget we've got Quidditch practice in two hours! - Harry called after.

- Wouldn't miss a chance to get a bludger in your face.

Harry did not bother to answer.

Tom Riddle was sitting at the table in the Restricted Section of the Library, looking closely at two of his horcruxes: the Diary and the Ring. The Christmas holidays was the only time when he could bring his two treasures to the Library for deeper research without any risk of unwanted attention. Sure, Mrs. Burgos was there. He could hear her distant snores. Christmas holidays was also the only time the old hag allowed herself to hit the bottle, and she and Tom had an unspoken agreement not to pay attention to each other, for which both were very much grateful.

The Ring was moving. Vibrating all of a sudden, making a low buzz as if it was a large beetle stuck between window frames, and then lying still again. The Diary was acting slightly different: each time the Ring would buzz, the Diary would slightly open up, as if its pages swelled and pushed themselves apart. It looked like it was breathing.

This is not how Tom's horcruxes behaved when they were apart from each other. Tom wore the Ring every day, and it always kept still, perhaps only turning a little too hot when he would experience strong emotions, like anger or excitement. The Diary was most of the time hidden in the false bottom Tom added to his trunk over the summer. He had a very similar journal he used for personal notes and tasks, so if anyone was to express curiosity about what Riddle could possibly write down, they would only find his study lists and other boring plans.

It was the first time Tom paid proper attention to the way the horcruxes reacted to each other. He tried to research it; the table was buried under books on dark magic. But none of these books had any information about a witch or a wizard with more than one horcrux. It might have been that Tom was the first one in history.

Tom lifted his eyes from the horcruxes and onto the book shelves, looking right past them, his gaze turned inward into his own mind.

What was he becoming? That snakelike man from Harry's head? How strong was that man? How powerful? How big was his army? How many horcruxes did he have? Could he become even more than that, if he studied his mistakes?

The Ring buzzed again, and Tom looked back down. He put his finger on it to stop the vibration and felt an echo inside of himself. It reminded him of something else. Harry's scar.

Tom put the Ring back on, the Diary back in his school bag, picked up his library books and put them away. Perhaps, he gave Harry enough time to recover from what happened in the Room of Requirement. It was time to send Rosier off.

He decided to confront Eduard after supper, in the Slytherin Common Room.

To his surprise, Rosier and Harry were having what looked like an energetic discussion. The usual spite was gone. They both didn't even notice Tom enter the room.

- Basically, the more you exercise your endurance and speed, the faster you become. I mean, it's only logical, right? - Harry spread his hands.

- Sure, I just can't imagine your funny routine with those stupid jumps training your endurance, or speed for that matter, - Eduard answered, rather genially.

Quidditch. Of course.

- You try it, Ed, and see for yourself! I'm telling you!

- Eduard? - Tom called, and Rosier jumped up.

- Tom! Oh... We were just...

- I need to talk to you in private.

Tom could feel Harry's eyes on him, but didn't feel like returning the look. Not yet.

Eduard stood up and followed Tom out of the Common Room. Tom felt Rosier's anticipation almost sear the back of his head. They entered the Dungeons, where Riddle turned to get a better glance at his roommate.

Something changed. It was very subtle, but it was there. Eduard didn't search Tom's face - he just stood there, waiting. As if Tom's presence didn't enthrall him as before.

- I need you to leave. Now. Go home to your parents.

Eduard didn't answer.

- Do you understand me?

- Yes.

- Pack your things.

- No.

A burning sensation, almost blinding, flared in Tom's temples. He struggled to keep a straight face.

- Explain yourself.

- Luke asked me to stay. He's afraid you will... kill Harry.

Tom widened his eyes in false surprise.

- Kill Harry? What gave him that idea?

- He said you dueled Granger... and he barely survived.

So, Harry let it slip to his captain. Another bond that was starting to irritate Tom. Avery needed to be taught a lesson on many things, including who was giving orders around here. He was so busy dealing with Granger that his Death Eaters started to forget who he was.

And now this. Rosier, having the nerve to say no to him.

Tom slowly took out his wand, catching a glimpse of panic in Eduard's eyes. He walked up to one of the Dungeon's classroom doors. Tom put the tip of the wand to the keyhole and heard it click softly, opening the door. Riddle pushed the door open and showed Rosier inside.

- Tom, please don't think I'm putting Avery's interests above yours. It's not like that, it's not the only reason why I stayed.

- Go inside.

Eduard bit his lip and walked in. Tom followed and closed the door, locking it and putting the silencing charm over it.

He turned back to Rosier and pulled out his hand.

- Give me your wand.

- Tom, please…, - the panic reached Eduard's voice.

- Wand, - Tom repeated, this time more firmly.

Rosier swallowed nervously and put his hand in the pocket of his school robe. He slowly took out his wand and put it in Riddle's hand.

- I hate it when you make me use this spell, Eduard. You deserve better.

- You don't have to punish me, Tom! I'll leave, if that is what you want.

- Too late for that.

- I am most loyal to you, I have always been and always will be!

- Silence!

Eduard squeezed his eyes shut and curled his fingers into fists. His shoulders shrank up almost to his ears. Tom watched him, listened to his rapid breath, taking his time.

This moment was always more important than the punishment itself. The anticipation. How painful will it be this time? When will it end? Tom made a circle around Rosier, reading his mind without any need of legilimency. "When will it happen"? "Will Tom attack now"?

- How dare you call yourself loyal when you have just refused my order?

- I didn't think what I was saying!

- Liar!

Rosier shuddered. Tom returned to his spot, face to face with Eduard.

- That was a well thought through answer. You put Granger's, this new boy's needs, above mine. He must have gotten in your head, hasn't he?..

- No, Tom, you don't understand...

- Crucio!

Rosier dropped to the ground, covering his head with his hands. A squealing sound came out of his mouth, as his fingers gripped his copper curls. Tom slowly counted to ten and then ended the spell. He never enjoyed this. It was just a necessary measure.

Riddle squatted down, leveling with Eduard, balancing on the balls of his feet.

He shouldn't push too hard. If Rosier's loyalty was being shifted, he could end up losing him.

- Eduard? - he called, but Rosier kept his head covered, - Eduard, look at me.

The young man's hands slowly slid down, elbows shaking. His eyes were watery, a single tear running down his cheek.

- Eduard, I hate doing this to you. You know how much I value your loyalty.

- I'm sorry, Tom.., - Rosier whispered.

Tom reached his hand out and cupped Eduard's cheek.

- I forgive you.

More tears came running down Eduard's face.

If there ever were moments when Tom cherished his relationship with Rosier, it were moments like this. Riddle liked him crumble into pieces, blaming himself for not being loyal enough. No arrogance, no usual attitude, as if everyone owed him. At moments like this Riddle felt he was responsible for this boy, that Eduard was his completely.

Rosier must have felt the same, as he was pushing his face into Tom's hand, and Riddle stroked his cheek with his thumb, drying the boy's tears. His most loyal follower deserved some tenderness - after all, it's what could help him stay - and when Tom's palm reached Rosier's lips and he started kissing it, Tom didn't mind at all.

- I wanted to stay for you, just for you.., - Eduard spoke through tears, - I would rather die than betray you.

Tom felt satisfaction pour inside of him, and he let Rosier continue kissing his hand.

- I'm glad we have that settled, Eduard. Don't forget to pack your things and leave.

Rosier stopped the kissing and nodded his head. Tom stood up, pulling his hand away, returned him the wand, unlocked the door and left.

Author's note.

I'm sorry it took me ages to publish. You probably don't even remember what happened in the chapter before :) Too much things happened this autumn.

Gosh.

But I really hope you enjoyed this. I had to make Tom strip and also I had an idea of making two side fics on what could have happened, Tom's and Harry's secret versions, and maybe I will ;) Let me know if you'd like that. After all, this is an +18 fic, but I tend to keep it too decent IMHO. My Editor keeps asking me when will all the dicks start popping out.

Also, Rosier and Tom are too cute, don't you think? Hello, toxic, unhealthy relationships. (Pls try to keep away from these in real life, they are reeeally bad for your mental health, trust me, been there).

Finally: huge thanks to my Editor, who I had a horrible fight with, we screamed at each other at a public place (office), but made it through like the awesome adults we are. I can't do this without you, we're in this together, and I understand we need to start wrapping up. "Come on, Tom, let's finish this the way we started it. Together!".

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.